1889
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading January 3, 1889.
3
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading January 3, 1889.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
baldadjectiveUS /bɔːld/
with no effort to conceal
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
bareadjectiveUS /ber/
completely unclothed
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading "I want, I want," says the little legend beneath.
biggeradjectiveUS /ˈbɪɡər/
large or big relative to something else
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
BlakenounUS /bleɪk/
visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
Blake'snounUS /bleɪks/
possessive form of “blake” — visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
casesnounUS /ˈkeɪsəz/
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
climbverbUS /klaɪm/
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
conversingverbUS /kənˈvɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “converse” — carry on a conversation
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
crescentnounUS /ˈkresənt/
any shape resembling the curved shape of the moon in its first or last quarters
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
executionnounUS /ˌeksəˈkjuːʃən/
putting a condemned person to death
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
expressedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsprest/
communicated in words
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
figuresnounUS /ˈfɪɡjərz/
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
footnounUS /fʊt/
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
furiousadjectiveUS /ˈfjʊriəs/
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
globenounUS /ɡloʊb/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
hurrynounUS /ˈhɜːri/
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading January 3, 1889.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
legendnounUS /ˈledʒənd/
a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events
From this reading "I want, I want," says the little legend beneath.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "I want, I want," says the little legend beneath.
lowestadjectiveUS /ˈloʊəst/
lowest in rank or importance
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
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 execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
moonnounUS /muːn/
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
postage-stamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
rungnounUS /rʌŋ/
a crosspiece between the legs of a chair
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
saysnounUS /sez/
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading "I want, I want," says the little legend beneath.
seemverbUS /siːm/
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
seesnounUS /siːz/
plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
settingnounUS /ˈsetɪŋ/
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
spacenounUS /speɪs/
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
symbolnounUS /ˈsɪmbəl/
an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
tinyadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪni/
very small
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
trivialadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪviəl/
(informal) small and of little importance
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
vignettenounUS /vɪˈnjet/
a brief literary description
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
wantverbUS /wɑːnt/
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "I want, I want," says the little legend beneath.
welladverbUS /wel/
(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 The execution is trivial enough; it is all done, and not very well done, in a space not much bigger than a postage-stamp--but it is one of the many cases in which Blake, by a minute symbol, expressed a large idea.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There are two figures that seem to be conversing together; on the ladder itself, just setting his foot to the lowest rung, is the figure of a man who is beginning to climb in a furious hurry.
woodcutnoun
a print made from a woodcut
From this reading There is a tiny vignette of Blake's, a woodcut, I think, in which one sees a ladder set up to the crescent moon from a bald and bare corner of the globe.
