speak to
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
anniversarynounUS /ˌænəˈvɜːrsəri/
the date on which an event occurred in some previous year (or the celebration of it)
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
arisenverbUS /ərˈɪzən/
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
BirthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
BrowningnounUS /ˈbraʊnɪŋ/
United States inventor of firearms (especially automatic pistols and repeating rifles and a machine gun called the Peacemaker) (1855-1926)
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
ByronnounUS /ˈbaɪrən/
English romantic poet notorious for his rebellious and unconventional lifestyle (1788-1824)
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
permission to do something
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
criticismnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/
disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
DantenounUS /ˈdɑːnteɪ/
an Italian poet famous for writing the Divine Comedy that describes a journey through Hell and purgatory and paradise guided by Virgil and his idealized Beatrice (1265-1321)
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
destructiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrʌktɪv/
causing destruction or much damage
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
DrydennounUS /ˈdraɪdən/
the outstanding poet and dramatist of the Restoration (1631-1700)
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
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 By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
English-speakingadjective
able to communicate in English
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
highest in quality
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
HundredthnounUS /ˈhʌndrədθ/
position 100 in a countable series of things
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
lesseradjectiveUS /ˈlesər/
of less size or importance
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
MiltonnounUS /ˈmɪltən/
English poet; remembered primarily as the author of an epic poem describing humanity's fall from grace (1608-1674)
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
Milton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
ofteneradverbUS /ˈɔːfənər/
more often or more frequently
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
by chance
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
poetsnounUS /ˈpoʊəts/
plural of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
PopenounUS /poʊp/
the head of the Roman Catholic Church
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
any competition
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
any object that is left unused or still extant
From this reading Yet still his throne remains unshaken.
precisely, exactly
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
rivalsnounUS /ˈraɪvəlz/
plural of “rival” — the contestant you hope to defeat
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
except for; apart from
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
express in speech
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
not in physical motion
From this reading Yet still his throne remains unshaken.
TennysonnounUS /ˈtenɪsən/
Englishman and Victorian poet (1809-1892)
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It is right that this anniversary should be kept in all English-speaking lands.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
the chair of state for a monarch, bishop, etc.
From this reading Yet still his throne remains unshaken.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/
of worldwide scope or applicability
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
UniversitynounUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəti/
the body of faculty and students at a university
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
unshakenadjectiveUS /ənˈʃeɪkən/
unshaken in purpose
From this reading Yet still his throne remains unshaken.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
well-nighadverb
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
which person or people
From this reading By general--by well-nigh universal--consent, he is still the second poet of our race, the greatest, save one, of all who have used the English speech.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
WordsworthnounUS /ˈwɜːrdzwərθ/
a romantic English poet whose work was inspired by the Lake District where he spent most of his life (1770-1850)
From this reading Milton is as far away from us in time as Dante was from him; destructive criticism has been busy with his great poem; formidable rivals of his fame have arisen--Dryden and Pope, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Browning, not to speak of lesser names--poets whom we read perhaps oftener and with more pleasure.
YalenounUS /jeɪl/
a university in Connecticut
From this reading An address delivered before the Modern Language Club of Yale University on Milton's Three Hundredth Birthday.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet still his throne remains unshaken.
