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Literature and Life (Complete)
Literature and Life (Complete)

Chapter XXXVI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
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VII.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Literature and Life (Complete)

Chapter XXXVI

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
VII.
Line 2
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.
Line 3
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.
Line 4
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.
Line 5
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.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Art auxiliary verb US /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.”

Been auxiliary verb US /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.”

Has auxiliary verb US /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.”

Have auxiliary verb US /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.”

Heir noun US /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.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

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.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

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.”

Themselves pronoun US /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.”

Under preposition US /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.”

All words in this reading · 95

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

agreeable

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

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.

almost

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

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.

amateurish

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

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.

ambition

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

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.

American

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

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.

any

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

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.

apparently

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

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.

apt

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

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.

author

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

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.

authors

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

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.

bad

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

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.

branch

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

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.

commonly

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

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.

competent

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

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.

Continent

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

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.

countries

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

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.

critic

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

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.

criticism

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

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.

degree

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

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.

eclipse

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

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.

English

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

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.

Englishman

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

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.

expression

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

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.

false

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

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.

fault

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

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.

formed

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

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.

freed

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

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.

gained

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

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.

glib

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

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.

illustrate

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

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.

imaginative

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

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.

individual

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

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.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

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.

largely

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

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.

learning

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

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.

like

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

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.

literature

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

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.

lively

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

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.

manners

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

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.

misfortune

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

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.

models

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

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.

more

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

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.

nature

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

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.

notion

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

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.

person

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

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.

polite

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

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.

rather

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

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.

review

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

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.

school

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

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.

serious

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

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.

show

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

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.

some

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

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.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

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.

strive

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

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.

theory

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

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.

very

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

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.

viewed

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

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.

VII

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

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.

wit

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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.

work

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

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.

write

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

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.