used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
airyadjectiveUS /ˈeri/
open to or abounding in fresh air
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
from appearances alone
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
carefully weighed
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
power to direct or determine
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
depravationnounUS /ˌdeprəˈveɪʃən/
moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
DisordersnounUS /dɪˈsɔːrdərz/
plural of “disorder” — a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
exactnessnoun
the quality of being exact
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
facultiesnounUS /ˈfækəltiz/
plural of “faculty” — one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
set up or found
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
come to pass
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
Imlac
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
influencesnounUS /ˈɪnfluːənsɪz/
plural of “influence” — a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
insanitynounUS /ˌɪnˈsænəti/
relatively permanent disorder of the mind
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
intellectnounUS /ˈɪntəlekt/
knowledge and intellectual ability
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
limitsnounUS /ˈlɪməts/
plural of “limit” — the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
madnessnounUS /ˈmædnəs/
obsolete terms for legal insanity
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
not any; not one
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
notionsnounUS /ˈnoʊʃənz/
plural of “notion” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
observersnounUS /əbˈzɜːrvərz/
plural of “observer” — a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
many times at short intervals
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
predominateverbUS /prɪˈdɑːməneɪt/
be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
PREVALENCEnounUS /ˈprevələns/
the quality of prevailing generally; being widespread
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
probabilitynounUS /ˌprɑːbəˈbɪlətiː/
a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
pronouncedadjectiveUS /prəˈnaʊnst/
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
regulateverbUS /ˈreɡjəleɪt/
fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
repressverbUS /riˈpres/
put down by force or intimidation
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
rigorousadjectiveUS /ˈrɪɡərəs/
rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
express in speech
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
superficialadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃəl/
concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
tyrannizeverb
rule a country as a tyrant
From this reading No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.
ungovernableadjectiveUS /ənˈɡʌvərnəbəl/
incapable of being controlled
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
at the time that
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading All power of fancy over reason is a degree of insanity; but while this power is such as we can control and repress, it is not visible to others, nor considered as any depravation of the mental faculties: it is not pronounced madness but when it becomes ungovernable and apparently influences speech or action.
which person or people
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
belonging to which person
From this reading There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading THE DANGEROUS PREVALENCE OF IMAGINATION “Disorders of intellect,” answered Imlac, “happen much more often than superficial observers will easily believe.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Perhaps, if we speak with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right state.
