used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Occasion should mean opportunity; and in the case of poetry it should rather mean provocation.
commonlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmənli/
under normal conditions
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
degradedadjectiveUS /dɪˈɡreɪdəd/
unrestrained by convention or morality
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
distortedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɔːrtəd/
so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
ERSKINE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ERSKINE MACDONALD, LTD.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
insincereadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsɪnˈsɪr/
lacking sincerity
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
insufficientadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/
of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
INTRODUCTIONnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/
the act of beginning something new
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Occasion should mean opportunity; and in the case of poetry it should rather mean provocation.
LTD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ERSKINE MACDONALD, LTD.
MACDONALD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ERSKINE MACDONALD, LTD.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Occasion should mean opportunity; and in the case of poetry it should rather mean provocation.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
mutableadjectiveUS /ˈmjuːtəbəl/
capable of or tending to change in form or quality or nature
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading Occasion should mean opportunity; and in the case of poetry it should rather mean provocation.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
something you have to do
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
and nothing more
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Occasion should mean opportunity; and in the case of poetry it should rather mean provocation.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
literature in metrical form
From this reading Occasion should mean opportunity; and in the case of poetry it should rather mean provocation.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
provocationnounUS /ˌprɑːvəˈkeɪʃən/
unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment
From this reading Occasion should mean opportunity; and in the case of poetry it should rather mean provocation.
provocationsnounUS /ˌprɑːvəˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “provocation” — unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
on the contrary
From this reading Occasion should mean opportunity; and in the case of poetry it should rather mean provocation.
responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/
worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Occasion should mean opportunity; and in the case of poetry it should rather mean provocation.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
literature in metrical form
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
versesnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/
plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
precisely as stated
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading INTRODUCTION The verses in this volume cover very many and various occasions; and are therefore the very contrary of what is commonly called occasional verse.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The term is used with a meaning that is very mutable; or with a meaning that has been greatly distorted and degraded.
the act of creating written works
From this reading And the trick of writing upon what are called public occasions, instead of upon what may truly be described as private provocations, has been responsible for much verse which is not only insufficient but insincere.
