used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
adoptedadjectiveUS /əˈdɑːptɪd/
acquired as your own by free choice
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
adventurousadjectiveUS /ædˈventʃərəs/
willing to undertake or seeking out new and daring enterprises
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
akinadjectiveUS /əˈkɪn/
similar in quality or character
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
in addition
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
ArgonounUS /ˈɑːrɡoʊ/
formerly a large constellation in the southern hemisphere between Canis Major and the Southern Cross; now divided into Carina and Pyxis and Puppis and Vela
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
cannibalsnounUS /ˈkænəbəlz/
plural of “cannibal” — a person who eats human flesh
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
capacitynounUS /kəˈpæsəti/
capability to perform or produce
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
a person who is in charge
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
child'snounUS /tʃaɪldz/
possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
childlikeadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldlaɪk/
befitting a young child
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
civilisedadjective
having a high state of culture and development both social and technological
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
cultivatedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌltəveɪtɪd/
(of land or fields) prepared for raising crops by plowing or fertilizing
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
elaboratedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæbəreɪtəd/
developed or executed with care and in minute detail
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
enchantedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtʃæn.tɪd/
Filled with or placed under the influence of magical power or charm.
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
EskimonounUS /ˈeskəmoʊ/
a member of a people inhabiting the Arctic (northern Canada or Greenland or Alaska or eastern Siberia); the Algonquians called them Eskimo (“eaters of raw flesh”) but they call themselves the Inuit (“the people”)
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
EuropeannounUS /ˌjʊrəˈpiːən/
a native or inhabitant of Europe
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
FablenounUS /ˈfeɪbəl/
a deliberately false or improbable account
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
fablesnounUS /ˈfeɪbəlz/
plural of “fable” — a deliberately false or improbable account
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
fictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/
a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
genrenounUS /ˈʒɑːnrə/
a kind of literary or artistic work
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
giantsnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənts/
plural of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
Heraclesnoun
(classical mythology) a hero noted for his strength; performed 12 immense labors to gain immortality
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
infiniteadjectiveUS /ˈɪnfənət/
having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
a boy or man
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
lassnounUS /læs/
a girl or young woman who is unmarried
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
legendsnounUS /ˈledʒəndz/
plural of “legend” — a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
the literary culture
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
magicaladjectiveUS /ˈmædʒɪkəl/
possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
the force of workers available
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
mythsnounUS /mɪθs/
plural of “myth” — a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
Märchen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
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 European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
OdysseusnounUS /oʊˈdɪsiəs/
(Greek mythology) a famous mythical Greek hero; his return to Ithaca after the siege of Troy was described in the Odyssey
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
Ojibbeways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
originalsnounUS /ərˈɪdʒənəlz/
plural of “original” — an original creation (i.e., an audio recording) from which copies can be made
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
peasantsnounUS /ˈpezənts/
plural of “peasant” — a country person
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
peoplesnounUS /ˈpiːpəlz/
the human beings of a particular nation or community or ethnic group
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
primevally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
racesnounUS /ˈreɪsəz/
plural of “race” — any competition
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
renewingadjectiveUS /rɪˈnuːɪŋ/
tending to impart new life and vigor to
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
retainverbUS /rɪˈteɪn/
hold back within
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
ringsnounUS /rɪŋz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
romanticadjectiveUS /roʊˈmæntɪk/
belonging to or characteristic of Romanticism or the Romantic Movement in the arts
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
sagasnounUS /ˈsɑːɡəz/
plural of “saga” — a narrative telling the adventures of a hero or a family; originally (12th to 14th centuries) a story of the families that settled Iceland and their descendants but now any prose narrative that resembles such an account
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
Samoans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
shapesnounUS /ʃeɪps/
plural of “shape” — any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
transport commercially
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
step-mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
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 The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
plural of “tale” — 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 Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The civilised peoples have elaborated these childlike legends into the chief romantic myths, as of the Ship Argo, and the sagas of Heracles and Odysseus.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading European peasants keep them in shapes more akin to the savage than to the Greek forms, and, finally, men of letters have adopted the _genre_ from popular narrative, as they have also adopted the Fable.
Uncivilisedadjective
without civilizing influences
From this reading Uncivilised races, Ojibbeways, Eskimo, Samoans, retain the old wives' fables in a form far less cultivated,--probably far nearer the originals.
weaponsnounUS /ˈwepənz/
plural of “weapon” — any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
wivesnounUS /waɪvz/
plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Old wives' fables, tales about a lad and a lass, and a cruel step-mother, about three adventurous brothers, about friendly or enchanted beasts, about magical weapons and rings, about giants and cannibals, are the most ancient form of romantic fiction.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading The _Märchen_ or child's story, is a form of literature primevally old, but with infinite capacity of renewing its youth.
