used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He aims at the highest things; and if he fails, it is only by a hair’s-breadth.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading His pathos is injured, like his sublimity, by too great an ambition after the ornaments and machinery of poetry.
aimsnounUS /eɪmz/
plural of “aim” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading He aims at the highest things; and if he fails, it is only by a hair’s-breadth.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He has an air of sublimity, if not the reality.
a cherished desire
From this reading His pathos is injured, like his sublimity, by too great an ambition after the ornaments and machinery of poetry.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading GRAY was an author of great pretensions, but of great merit.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He aims at the highest things; and if he fails, it is only by a hair’s-breadth.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He aims at the highest things; and if he fails, it is only by a hair’s-breadth.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading GRAY was an author of great pretensions, but of great merit.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading GRAY was an author of great pretensions, but of great merit.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He aims at the highest things; and if he fails, it is only by a hair’s-breadth.
cravingnounUS /ˈkreɪvɪŋ/
an intense desire for some particular thing
From this reading His craving after foreign help perhaps shows the want of the internal impulse.
failsverbUS /feɪlz/
third-person singular of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading He aims at the highest things; and if he fails, it is only by a hair’s-breadth.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading His craving after foreign help perhaps shows the want of the internal impulse.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading GRAY was an author of great pretensions, but of great merit.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading GRAY was an author of great pretensions, but of great merit.
hair's-breadthnoun
a very small distance or space
From this reading He aims at the highest things; and if he fails, it is only by a hair’s-breadth.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He has an air of sublimity, if not the reality.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He has an air of sublimity, if not the reality.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading His craving after foreign help perhaps shows the want of the internal impulse.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He aims at the highest things; and if he fails, it is only by a hair’s-breadth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His pathos is injured, like his sublimity, by too great an ambition after the ornaments and machinery of poetry.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He has an air of sublimity, if not the reality.
an instinctive motive
From this reading His craving after foreign help perhaps shows the want of the internal impulse.
injuredadjectiveUS /ˈɪndʒərd/
harmed
From this reading His pathos is injured, like his sublimity, by too great an ambition after the ornaments and machinery of poetry.
internaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrnəl/
happening or arising or located within some limits or especially surface
From this reading His craving after foreign help perhaps shows the want of the internal impulse.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He aims at the highest things; and if he fails, it is only by a hair’s-breadth.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He aims at the highest things; and if he fails, it is only by a hair’s-breadth.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading His pathos is injured, like his sublimity, by too great an ambition after the ornaments and machinery of poetry.
machinerynounUS /məˈʃiːnəri/
machines or machine systems collectively
From this reading His pathos is injured, like his sublimity, by too great an ambition after the ornaments and machinery of poetry.
meritnounUS /ˈmerət/
any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading GRAY was an author of great pretensions, but of great merit.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He has an air of sublimity, if not the reality.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GRAY was an author of great pretensions, but of great merit.
and nothing more
From this reading He aims at the highest things; and if he fails, it is only by a hair’s-breadth.
ornamentsnounUS /ˈɔːrnəmənts/
plural of “ornament” — something used to beautify
From this reading His pathos is injured, like his sublimity, by too great an ambition after the ornaments and machinery of poetry.
pathosnounUS /ˈpeɪθɑːs/
a quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow)
From this reading His pathos is injured, like his sublimity, by too great an ambition after the ornaments and machinery of poetry.
by chance
From this reading His craving after foreign help perhaps shows the want of the internal impulse.
literature in metrical form
From this reading His pathos is injured, like his sublimity, by too great an ambition after the ornaments and machinery of poetry.
pretensionsnounUS /prəˈtenʃənz/
plural of “pretension” — a false or unsupportable quality
From this reading GRAY was an author of great pretensions, but of great merit.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading He has an air of sublimity, if not the reality.
plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
From this reading His craving after foreign help perhaps shows the want of the internal impulse.
sublimitynoun
nobility in thought or feeling or style
From this reading He has an air of sublimity, if not the reality.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He has an air of sublimity, if not the reality.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He aims at the highest things; and if he fails, it is only by a hair’s-breadth.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading His pathos is injured, like his sublimity, by too great an ambition after the ornaments and machinery of poetry.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading His craving after foreign help perhaps shows the want of the internal impulse.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading GRAY was an author of great pretensions, but of great merit.
