used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Fiction is ceasing to be a branch of art, and fast becoming, instead, a branch of science.
abnormaladjectiveUS /æbˈnɔːrməl/
not normal; not typical or usual or regular or conforming to a norm
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
aimverbUS /eɪm/
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading The aim of the novelist, apparently, is to lecture instead of to amuse his readers.
(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 The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading The aim of the novelist, apparently, is to lecture instead of to amuse his readers.
analysisnounUS /əˈnæləsəs/
an investigation of the component parts of a whole and their relations in making up the whole
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
from appearances alone
From this reading The aim of the novelist, apparently, is to lecture instead of to amuse his readers.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Fiction is ceasing to be a branch of art, and fast becoming, instead, a branch of science.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Fiction is ceasing to be a branch of art, and fast becoming, instead, a branch of science.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading Fiction is ceasing to be a branch of art, and fast becoming, instead, a branch of science.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Fiction is ceasing to be a branch of art, and fast becoming, instead, a branch of science.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
ceasingverbUS /ˈsiːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Fiction is ceasing to be a branch of art, and fast becoming, instead, a branch of science.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
ContinentaladjectiveUS /ˌkɑːntəˈnentəl/
of or pertaining to or typical of Europe
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
true confidential information
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
dissectionnounUS /daɪˈsekʃən/
cutting so as to separate into pieces
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Fiction is ceasing to be a branch of art, and fast becoming, instead, a branch of science.
fictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/
a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The aim of the novelist, apparently, is to lecture instead of to amuse his readers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
a single distinct event
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Fiction is ceasing to be a branch of art, and fast becoming, instead, a branch of science.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Fiction is ceasing to be a branch of art, and fast becoming, instead, a branch of science.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
lectureverbUS /ˈlektʃər/
deliver a lecture or talk
From this reading The aim of the novelist, apparently, is to lecture instead of to amuse his readers.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
morbidadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrbəd/
suggesting an unhealthy mental state
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
NaturalismnounUS /ˈnætʃərəlɪzəm/
(philosophy) the doctrine that the world can be understood in scientific terms without recourse to spiritual or supernatural explanations
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
novelnounUS /ˈnɑːvəl/
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
novelistnounUS /ˈnɑːvələst/
one who writes novels
From this reading The aim of the novelist, apparently, is to lecture instead of to amuse his readers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
pessimisticadjectiveUS /ˌpesəˈmɪstɪk/
expecting the worst possible outcome
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
physiologicaladjectiveUS /ˌfɪziəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
of or relating to the biological study of physiology
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
PlotnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
preferencenounUS /ˈprefərəns/
a strong liking
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
psychologicaladjectiveUS /ˌsaɪkəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
mental or emotional as opposed to physical in nature
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
readersnounUS /ˈriːdərz/
plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading The aim of the novelist, apparently, is to lecture instead of to amuse his readers.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
revolutionizingverbUS /ˌrevəˈluːʃənaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “revolutionize” — change radically
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
sacrificedverbUS /ˈsækrəfaɪst/
past form of “sacrifice” — endure the loss of
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
a particular branch of scientific knowledge
From this reading Fiction is ceasing to be a branch of art, and fast becoming, instead, a branch of science.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
studiesnounUS /ˈstʌdiz/
plural of “study” — a detailed critical inspection
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fiction is ceasing to be a branch of art, and fast becoming, instead, a branch of science.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The pessimistic tone of Continental fiction, and its pronounced preference for minute and morbid analysis, are quite revolutionizing the modern novel.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
typesnounUS /taɪps/
plural of “type” — a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading Plot, incident, and description are being sacrificed more and more to the dissection of peculiar and abnormal types of character, and the story is too often lost in physiological details or psychological studies.
unnaturaladjectiveUS /ənˈnætʃərəl/
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading The wave of _Naturalism_, as it is called (though nothing could really be more unnatural), has spread from France all over Europe.
