Chapter I · Chapter 1

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From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

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

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

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

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

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

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

plural of “biography” — an account of the series of events making up a person's life

From this reading Each decade since he died has produced at least two biographies of him.

United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

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

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

a period of 10 years

From this reading Each decade since he died has produced at least two biographies of him.

give a description of

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading Each decade since he died has produced at least two biographies of him.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Each decade since he died has produced at least two biographies of him.

being ten more than seventy

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

plural of “epoch” — a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

an analytic or interpretive literary composition

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

a document appraising the value of something (as for insurance or taxation)

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

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

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

the property possessed by something or someone of outstanding importance or eminence

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

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

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

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

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

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

From this reading Each decade since he died has produced at least two biographies of him.

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

From this reading Each decade since he died has produced at least two biographies of him.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

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

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

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

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

becoming greater or larger

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

a definite length of time marked off by two instants

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

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

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

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 Each decade since he died has produced at least two biographies of him.

engage in

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

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

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

the force of workers available

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

a public toilet for men

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

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

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

a form of address for a man

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

just preceding something else in time or order

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield

From this reading Each decade since he died has produced at least two biographies of him.

the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

pull back or move away or backward

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

Identical; not different.

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

conforming to or constituting a standard of measurement or value; or of the usual or regularized or accepted kind

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

at a steady rate or pace

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

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

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

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

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

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

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.

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

From this reading Each decade since he died has produced at least two biographies of him.

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

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

widely or fully known

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

at the time that

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in the estimation of men is in some sort a measure of their greatness.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

possessive form of “world” — everything that exists anywhere

From this reading What it was in the man and in his circumstances that has attracted so much of the world's interest to Burns, I must make one more attempt to describe.

inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work

From this reading When Mr. Carlyle wrote his well-known essay on Burns in 1828, he could already number six biographies of the Poet, which had been given to the world during the previous thirty years; and the interval between 1828 and the present day has added, in at least the same proportion, to their number.

a late time of life

From this reading Tried by this standard, Burns must be great indeed, for during the eighty years that have passed since his death, men's interest in the man himself and their estimate of his genius have been steadily increasing.