Chapter I

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

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

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

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

speak to

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

(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 But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

in an affable manner

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

the month following July and preceding September

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

the 2nd letter of the Greek alphabet

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

a university in England

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

Scottish historian who wrote about the French Revolution (1795-1881)

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

plural of “contact” — close interaction

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

suited to your comfort or purpose or needs

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

a statement that is emphatic and explicit (spoken or written)

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

change toward something smaller or lower

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

United States writer and leading exponent of transcendentalism (1803-1882)

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

possessive form of “emerson” — United States writer and leading exponent of transcendentalism (1803-1882)

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

past form of “endure” — put up with something or somebody unpleasant

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

past form of “found” — set up or found

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

plural of “generation” — all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

the act of giving

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

past form of “hail” — praise vociferously

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

a fictitious detective in stories by A. Conan Doyle

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

in an important way or to an important degree

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

freedom from control or influence of another or others

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

an opinion formed by judging something

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

the 10th letter of the Greek alphabet

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

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

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

the literary culture

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

an instance of oratory

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

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

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

an authoritative person who divines the future

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

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

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

A specialist in a particular branch of study; a distinguished student.

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

a person with unusual powers of foresight

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

not in physical motion

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

third-person singular of “survive” — continue to live and avoid dying

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

the words of something written

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

being four more than thirty

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

without doubt; certainly

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

not known

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

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

From this reading The first, a short one, is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's celebrated oration, "The American Scholar," delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge on August 31st, 1837.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.

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

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It is convenient to begin, like the gentlemen of God, with a glance at a text or two.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading But "The American Scholar" brought him into instant notice at home, partly as man of letters but more importantly as seer and prophet, and the fame thus founded has endured without much diminution, at all events in New England, to this day.

the words that are spoken

From this reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, giving words to what was undoubtedly the common feeling, hailed the address as the intellectual declaration of independence of the American people, and that judgment, amiably passed on by three generations of pedagogues, still survives in the literature books.

a late time of life

From this reading Emerson was then thirty-four years old and almost unknown in his own country:, though he had already published "Nature" and established his first contacts with Landor and Carlyle.