Chapter I

be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

plural of “absurdity” — a message whose content is at variance with reason

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

how long something has existed

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

a feeling of delight at being entertained

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

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

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Considering the knowledge of the present day, you are justified in so doing.

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

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

have

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

express strong disapproval of

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

past form of “condescend” — behave in a patronizing and condescending manner

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

-ing form of “consider” — deem to be

From this reading Considering the knowledge of the present day, you are justified in so doing.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Considering the knowledge of the present day, you are justified in so doing.

relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading Considering the knowledge of the present day, you are justified in so doing.

cause to move by pulling

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

agreeably diverting

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

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

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

the quality of being improbable

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

plural of “improvement” — a change for the better; progress in development

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

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

From this reading Considering the knowledge of the present day, you are justified in so doing.

plural of “incident” — a single distinct event

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

a message describing how something is to be done

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

past form of “invent” — come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

having words so spaced that lines have straight even margins

From this reading Considering the knowledge of the present day, you are justified in so doing.

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

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading Considering the knowledge of the present day, you are justified in so doing.

plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

take somebody somewhere

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

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 The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

plural of “monk” — a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

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

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

used to form the superlative

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

as might be expected

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

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

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

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

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

plural of “plot” — a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

plural of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Considering the knowledge of the present day, you are justified in so doing.

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

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 But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

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

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

plural of “refinement” — a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

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

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Considering the knowledge of the present day, you are justified in so doing.

plural of “son” — a male human offspring

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

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

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

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

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading But I pray you to bear in mind that few qualities are more dependent on time, than probability and improbability.

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

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

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

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The improvements and refinements of this age will naturally lead you to condemn as absurdities, many of the incidents with which these tales abound.

a silvery metallic element that is common in rare-earth minerals; used in magnesium and aluminum alloys

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading New York and London G. P. Putnam’s Sons The Knickerbocker Press, New Rochelle, N. Y.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You have here, my good friends, sundry moral and entertaining stories, invented by the monks of old, and used by them for amusement, as well as for instruction; from which the most celebrated poets, of our own and other lands, have condescended to draw their plots.