Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

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

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading But they are not on that account ballads.

(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 They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

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

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

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

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

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

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

plural of “ballad” — a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

From this reading THACKERAY'S BALLADS.

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

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But they are not on that account ballads.

plural of “characteristic” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

A detailed written record of historical events in order. (Sử ký, biên niên sử lịch sử.)

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

plural of “exception” — a deliberate act of omission

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

the point or degree to which something extends

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

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

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

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

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

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

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

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

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

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

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

cause to move by striking

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

the act of contacting one thing with another

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

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

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

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

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

resulting from one's intentions

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

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

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

in a literal sense

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

an incorrect or unsuitable name

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

used to form the superlative

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

attach something somewhere by means of nails

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But they are not on that account ballads.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

a quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow)

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

plural of “poem” — a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

easily deciphered

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

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

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

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

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

denote or connote

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

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

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

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

From this reading THACKERAY'S BALLADS.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But they are not on that account ballads.

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

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

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

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

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

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

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

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

plural of “touch” — the event of something coming in contact with the body

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

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

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

literature in metrical form

From this reading Literally, a ballad is a song, but it has come to signify a short chronicle in verse, which may be political, or pathetic, or grotesque,--or it may have all three characteristics or any two of them; but not on that account is any grotesque poem a ballad,--nor, of course, any pathetic or any political poem.

a metrical adaptation of something (e.g., of a prose text)

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

(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 They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.

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

From this reading We have a volume of Thackeray's poems, republished under the name of _Ballads_, which is, I think, to a great extent a misnomer.

in the company of; together with

From this reading They are all readable, almost all good, full of humour, and with some fine touches of pathos, most happy in their versification, and, with a few exceptions, hitting well on the head the nail which he intended to hit.