used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
ablestadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəlst/
superlative of “able” — (usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
consider or hold as true
From this reading I beg you, Sir, to accept this book.
acknowledgeverbUS /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒ/
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
(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 Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
allegoricaladjectiveUS /ˌæləˈɡɔːrəkəl/
used in or characteristic of or containing allegory
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
allowsverbUS /əˈlaʊz/
third-person singular of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
arrestverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
on or to one side
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
assuredlyadverbUS /əˈʃʊrədli/
without a doubt
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
audacities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
for the reason that
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading I beg you, Sir, to accept this book.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading I beg you, Sir, to accept this book.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
confined by bonds
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
chastest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
cherishverbUS /ˈtʃerɪʃ/
be fond of; be attached to
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
communionnounUS /kəˈmjuːnjən/
the act of participating in the celebration of the Eucharist
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
conceivedverbUS /kənˈsiːvd/
past form of “conceive” — have the idea for
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
considerationsnounUS /kənˌsɪdərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “consideration” — the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
dedicatingverbUS /ˈdedɪkeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “dedicate” — give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
steadfast in affection or allegiance
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
highest in quality
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I beg you, Sir, to accept this book.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
inspirationnounUS /ˌɪnspərˈeɪʃən/
arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
involvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlvd/
connected by participation or association or use
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
lessenedadjectiveUS /ˈlesənd/
impaired by diminution
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
meritnounUS /ˈmerət/
any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
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 I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
pleasuresnounUS /ˈpleʒərz/
plural of “pleasure” — a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
pretensionnounUS /priˈtenʃən/
a false or unsupportable quality
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
realismnounUS /ˈriːəlɪzəm/
the attribute of accepting the facts of life and favoring practicality and literal truth
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
renderingnounUS /ˈrendərɪŋ/
a performance of a musical composition or a dramatic role etc.
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
term of address for a man
From this reading I beg you, Sir, to accept this book.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I beg you, Sir, to accept this book.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I beg you, Sir, to accept this book.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
at the time that
From this reading But when Fortune for good or ill allowed me to discover the subject of this allegorical novel, I felt bound not to set it aside because of a few audacities which a faithful rendering involved and which an arrest of development alone--that is, a crime against the literary conscience--could avoid.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading You now know--you could have guessed as much--what I should like people to think of my work, if by chance any one did it the unexpected honor of thinking about it at all.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Of all the pleasures that its writing gave me, that of dedicating it to you is assuredly not the least.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I beg you, Sir, to accept this book.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I conceived it under the inspiration of ideas that you cherish, and I could have wished that it had come nearer to your own works than it does, not in merit--that would be an absurd pretension--but, at any rate, in that pleasant quality shown in all your books, which allows the chastest minds, as well as those that exact the greatest realism, to have communion with your genius--a communion which the ablest people of our time can acknowledge without feeling its charm lessened by such considerations.
