used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
a feeling of delighted approval and liking
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
affectionateadjectiveUS /əˈfekʃənət/
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
a cherished desire
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
amnis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
BARTnounUS /bɑːrt/
a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight
From this reading TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., ETC.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
commandingadjectiveUS /kəˈmændɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
deem to be
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
contemporariesnounUS /kənˈtempəreriz/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
defluat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
ETC
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., ETC.
give expression to
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
fordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
happiestadjectiveUS /ˈhæpiəst/
superlative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
inscribedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈskraɪbd/
written (by handwriting, printing, engraving, or carving) on or in a surface
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
set down according to a plan
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
morrownounUS /ˈmɑːroʊ/
the next day
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
offeringsnounUS /ˈɔːfərɪŋz/
plural of “offering” — something offered (as a proposal or bid)
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
and nothing more
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
prerogativenounUS /prɪˈrɑːɡətɪv/
a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right)
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
procrastinatornounUS /prəˈkræstəneɪtər/
someone who postpones work (especially out of laziness or habitual carelessness)
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
show unwillingness towards
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
runsnounUS /rʌnz/
plural of “run” — a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
SCOTTnounUS /skɑːt/
award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., ETC.
seizeverbUS /siːz/
take hold of; grab
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
shrinenounUS /ʃraɪn/
a place of worship hallowed by association with some sacred thing or person
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
term of address for a man
From this reading TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., ETC.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
succeedingadjectiveUS /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/
coming after or following
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
termedverbUS /tɜːrmd/
past form of “term” — name formally or designate with a term
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
tidesnounUS /taɪdz/
plural of “tide” — the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., ETC.
tributenounUS /ˈtrɪbjuːt/
something given or done as an expression of esteem
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
ungracefullyadverb
without grace; rigidly
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., ETC.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
