used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They have very few quotable passages and fewer vigorous single lines.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading We cannot claim any condensed poetical merit for the Metrical Romances.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot claim any condensed poetical merit for the Metrical Romances.
an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading We cannot claim any condensed poetical merit for the Metrical Romances.
condensedverbUS /kənˈdenst/
past form of “condense” — undergo condensation; change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops
From this reading We cannot claim any condensed poetical merit for the Metrical Romances.
consistsverbUS /kənˈsɪsts/
third-person singular of “consist” — originate
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
diffuseverbUS /dɪˈfjuːs/
move outward
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
entanglingverbUS /ɪnˈtæŋlɪŋ/
-ing form of “entangle” — entrap
From this reading Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
fancifuladjectiveUS /ˈfænsɪfəl/
indulging in or influenced by fancy
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading They have very few quotable passages and fewer vigorous single lines.
feweradjectiveUS /ˈfjuːər/
(comparative of “few” used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of
From this reading They have very few quotable passages and fewer vigorous single lines.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We cannot claim any condensed poetical merit for the Metrical Romances.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
half-hournounUS /ˈhæfaʊər/
a half of an hour
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They have very few quotable passages and fewer vigorous single lines.
illuminatedadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪtəd/
provided with artificial light
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
go away from a place
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading They have very few quotable passages and fewer vigorous single lines.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
meritnounUS /ˈmerət/
any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading We cannot claim any condensed poetical merit for the Metrical Romances.
MetricaladjectiveUS /ˈmetrɪkəl/
based on the meter as a standard of measurement
From this reading We cannot claim any condensed poetical merit for the Metrical Romances.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
missals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
narrativenounUS /ˈnærətɪv/
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 Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
passagesnounUS /ˈpæsədʒəz/
plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading They have very few quotable passages and fewer vigorous single lines.
picturesquenessnoun
the quality of being strikingly expressive or vivid
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
plural of “poem” — a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
poeticaladjectiveUS /poʊˈetɪkəl/
of or relating to poetry
From this reading We cannot claim any condensed poetical merit for the Metrical Romances.
literature in metrical form
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
pretensenounUS /priˈtens/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
quotableadjectiveUS /ˈkwoʊtəbəl/
able or fit to be repeated or quoted
From this reading They have very few quotable passages and fewer vigorous single lines.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
recallverbUS /ˈriːkɔːl/
recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
refreshingadjectiveUS /rɪˈfreʃɪŋ/
imparting vitality and energy
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
RomancesnounUS /roʊˈmænsɪz/
plural of “romance” — a relationship between two lovers
From this reading We cannot claim any condensed poetical merit for the Metrical Romances.
an educational institution
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
sensualadjectiveUS /ˈsenʃəwəl/
marked by the appetites and passions of the body
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
sensuousnessnoun
a sensuous feeling
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading They have very few quotable passages and fewer vigorous single lines.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
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 Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
straightforwardadjectiveUS /ˈstreɪtˈfɔːrwərd/
free from ambiguity
From this reading Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
subordinatingadjectiveUS /səˈbɔːrdəneɪtɪŋ/
serving to connect a subordinate clause to a main clause
From this reading Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We cannot claim any condensed poetical merit for the Metrical Romances.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Some of them have great narrative merit, being straightforward and to the purpose, never entangling themselves in reflection or subordinating the story to the expression.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They have very few quotable passages and fewer vigorous single lines.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
traveler'snounUS /ˈtrævələrz/
possessive form of “traveler” — a person who changes location
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
upholsterynounUS /əˈpoʊlstəri/
covering (padding and springs and webbing and fabric) on a piece of furniture
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
precisely as stated
From this reading They have very few quotable passages and fewer vigorous single lines.
vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading They have very few quotable passages and fewer vigorous single lines.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We cannot claim any condensed poetical merit for the Metrical Romances.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In this respect they are refreshing after reading many poems of the modern school, which, under the pretense of sensuousness, are truly sensual, and deal quite as much with the upholstery as with the soul of poetry.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Their merit consists in a diffuse picturesqueness, and reading them is like turning over illuminated missals in a traveler’s half-hour, which leave a vague impression on the mind of something vivid and fanciful, without one’s being able to recall any particular beauty.
