Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

plural of “arbiter” — someone with the power to settle matters at will

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

plural of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Writing, like dress and the common way of life, became plainer and graver and thought stronger and deeper.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

the particular occupation for which you are trained

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

a creation of the highest excellence

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

a movement in literature and art during the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe that favored rationality and restraint and strict forms

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading Writing, like dress and the common way of life, became plainer and graver and thought stronger and deeper.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

the specified day of the month

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading Writing, like dress and the common way of life, became plainer and graver and thought stronger and deeper.

determine the essential quality of

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

look down on with disdain

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading DR.

put on clothes

From this reading Writing, like dress and the common way of life, became plainer and graver and thought stronger and deeper.

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

-ing form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

third-person singular of “exist” — have an existence, be extant

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

a tool used by an engraver

From this reading Writing, like dress and the common way of life, became plainer and graver and thought stronger and deeper.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

treated with dislike or contempt

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

the literary culture

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Writing, like dress and the common way of life, became plainer and graver and thought stronger and deeper.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Writing, like dress and the common way of life, became plainer and graver and thought stronger and deeper.

of or relating to or characteristic of literature

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

the period of time in your life after your physical growth has stopped and you are fully developed

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

introduced from another region and persisting without cultivation

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

by chance

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

an amount of time

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

comparative of “plain” — clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading Writing, like dress and the common way of life, became plainer and graver and thought stronger and deeper.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

Identical; not different.

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

(Old Testament) Hebrew prophet and judge who anointed Saul as king

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

an educational institution

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading Writing, like dress and the common way of life, became plainer and graver and thought stronger and deeper.

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

a special situation

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Writing, like dress and the common way of life, became plainer and graver and thought stronger and deeper.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

without possibility of mistake

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Writing, like dress and the common way of life, became plainer and graver and thought stronger and deeper.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The difference between the period of his maturity and the period we have been examining is not perhaps easy to define; but it exists and it can be felt unmistakably in reading.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

belonging to which person

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading For one thing "Classicism" had become completely naturalized; it had ceased to regard the French as arbiters of elegance and literary taste; indeed Johnson himself never spoke of them without disdain and hated them as much as he hated Scotsmen.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.

the act of creating written works

From this reading JOHNSON AND HIS TIME By 1730 the authors whose work made the "classic" school in England were dead or had ceased writing; by the same date Samuel Johnson had begun his career as a man of letters.