used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
Alfieri
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
(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 All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
betokenverb
be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
BYRONnounUS /ˈbaɪrən/
English romantic poet notorious for his rebellious and unconventional lifestyle (1788-1824)
From this reading IRRITABILITY OF LORD BYRON.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
citizennounUS /ˈsɪtəzən/
a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
combinedadjectiveUS /kəmˈbaɪnd/
made or joined or united into one
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
constitutionnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃən/
law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
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 Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
at any time
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
intense or sharp
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
faultsnounUS /fɔːlts/
plural of “fault” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
geniusesnounUS /ˈdʒiːnjəsɪz/
plural of “genius” — someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
grievouslyadverbUS /ˈɡriːvəsli/
in a grievous manner
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
impassible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
indispensableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈspensəbəl/
not to be dispensed with; essential
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
intellectnounUS /ˈɪntəlekt/
knowledge and intellectual ability
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
IRRITABILITYnounUS /ˌɪrɪtəˈbɪləti/
an irritable petulant feeling
From this reading IRRITABILITY OF LORD BYRON.
irritableadjectiveUS /ˈɪrətəbəl/
easily irritated or annoyed
From this reading Was Lord Byron irritable?
irritationnounUS /ˌɪrɪˈteɪʃən/
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading IRRITABILITY OF LORD BYRON.
master-spirits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
meritedadjectiveUS /ˈmerɪtɪd/
properly deserved
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
MiltonnounUS /ˈmɪltən/
English poet; remembered primarily as the author of an epic poem describing humanity's fall from grace (1608-1674)
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
morbidadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrbəd/
suggesting an unhealthy mental state
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IRRITABILITY OF LORD BYRON.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
phlegmaticadjectiveUS /fleɡˈmætɪk/
showing little emotion
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
poeticadjectiveUS /poʊˈetɪk/
of or relating to poetry
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
pretendverbUS /priˈtend/
make believe with the intent to deceive
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
on the contrary
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
sensibilitynounUS /ˌsensɪˈbɪlɪti/
mental responsiveness and awareness
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
stoicnounUS /ˈstoʊɪk/
a member of the ancient Greek school of philosophy founded by Zeno
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
susceptibilitynounUS /səˌseptəˈbɪləti/
the state of being susceptible; easily affected
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
susceptibleadjectiveUS /səˈseptəbəl/
(often followed by “of” or “to”) yielding readily to or capable of
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
temperamentnounUS /ˈtemprəmənt/
your usual mood
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
untrueadjectiveUS /ənˈtruː/
not according with the facts
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
vegetates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was Lord Byron irritable?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All more or less were, and could not fail to have been, susceptible of irritation and anger; for such susceptibility was indispensable in the peculiar constitution of their minds.
which person or people
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
belonging to which person
From this reading Did such qualities, or rather faults,--for they betoken a cold nature,--ever belong to Milton, Dante, Alfieri, and those master-spirits whose strength of passion, combined with force of intellect, have merited for them the rank of geniuses?
in the company of; together with
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading With his poetic temperament, his exquisite and almost morbid sensibility, so grievously tried by circumstances, it would be equally absurd and untrue to pretend that he was as impassible as a stoic, or phlegmatic as some good citizen who vegetates rather than lives.
