agreeableadjectiveUS /əˈɡriːəbəl/
conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
amateurishadjectiveUS /ˈæmətʃɜːrɪʃ/
lacking professional skill or expertise
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
ambitionnounUS /æmˈbɪʃən/
a cherished desire
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
apparentlyadverbUS /əˈperəntli/
from appearances alone
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
authornounUS /ˈɔːθər/
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
authorsnounUS /ˈɔːθərz/
plural of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
badadjectiveUS /bæd/
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
branchnounUS /bræntʃ/
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
commonlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmənli/
under normal conditions
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
competentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpətɪnt/
properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
ContinentnounUS /ˈkɑːntənənt/
one of the large landmasses of the earth
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
countriesnounUS /ˈkʌntriz/
plural of “country” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
criticnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪk/
a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
criticismnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/
disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
degreenounUS /dɪˈɡriː/
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
eclipseverbUS /ɪˈklɪps/
be greater in significance than
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
EnglishnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
EnglishmannounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃmən/
a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
expressionnounUS /ɪkˈspreʃən/
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
falseadjectiveUS /fɔːls/
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
faultnounUS /fɔːlt/
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
formedadjectiveUS /fɔːrmd/
having or given a form or shape
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
freedverbUS /friːd/
past form of “free” — grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
gainedverbUS /ɡeɪnd/
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
glibadjectiveUS /ɡlɪb/
marked by lack of intellectual depth
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
heirnounUS /er/
A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
illustrateverbUS /ˈɪləstreɪt/
clarify by giving an example of
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
imaginativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒənətɪv/
(used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
individualadjectiveUS /ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒəwəl/
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
largelyadverbUS /ˈlɑːrdʒli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
learningnounUS /ˈlɜːrnɪŋ/
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
literaturenounUS /ˈlɪtərətʃər/
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
livelyadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪvli/
full of life and energy
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
mannersnounUS /ˈmænərz/
social deportment
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
misfortunenounUS /mɪˈsfɔːrtʃən/
unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
modelsnounUS /ˈmɑːdəlz/
plural of “model” — a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
notionnounUS /ˈnoʊʃən/
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/
a human being
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
politeadjectiveUS /pəˈlaɪt/
showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
reviewnounUS /ˌriːˈvjuː/
a new appraisal or evaluation
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
schoolnounUS /skuːl/
an educational institution
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
seriousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriəs/
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
showverbUS /ʃoʊ/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
striveverbUS /straɪv/
attempt by employing effort
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
theorynounUS /ˈθɪri/
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading The misfortune rather than the fault of our individual critic is that he is the heir of the false theory and bad manners of the English school.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
viewedverbUS /vjuːd/
past form of “view” — deem to be
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
VIInoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading VII.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
witnounUS /wɪt/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading In some degree our authors have freed themselves from English models; they have gained some notion of the more serious work of the Continent: but it is still the ambition of the American critic to write like the English critic, to show his wit if not his learning, to strive to eclipse the author under review rather than illustrate him.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The American, whom it has largely formed, is by nature very glib and very lively, and commonly his criticism, viewed as imaginative work, is more agreeable than that of the Englishman; but it is, like the art of both countries, apt to be amateurish.
writeverbUS /raɪt/
produce a literary work
From this reading The theory of that school has apparently been that almost any person of glib and lively expression is competent to write of almost any branch of polite literature; its manners are what we know.
