(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 Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
Boccaccionoun
Italian poet (born in France) (1313-1375)
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
burlesques
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the world still laughs, and will laugh for ever, over the masterpiece of Cervantes and the burlesques of Voltaire.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the world still laughs, and will laugh for ever, over the masterpiece of Cervantes and the burlesques of Voltaire.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
CervantesnounUS /serˈvɑːntes/
Spanish writer best remembered for “Don Quixote” which satirizes chivalry and influenced the development of the novel form (1547-1616)
From this reading But the world still laughs, and will laugh for ever, over the masterpiece of Cervantes and the burlesques of Voltaire.
Clarissas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
Corinnas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
at any time
From this reading But the world still laughs, and will laugh for ever, over the masterpiece of Cervantes and the burlesques of Voltaire.
floodsnounUS /flʌdz/
plural of “flood” — the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
Francesco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
Giovanni
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
grandfathersnounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðərz/
plural of “grandfather” — the father of your father or mother
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
grandmothersnounUS /ˈɡrændmʌðərz/
plural of “grandmother” — the mother of your father or mother
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
Heloises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
immortaladjUS /ɪˈmɔːr.t̬əl/
Living forever; never dying or decaying. (Bất tử, trường tồn vĩnh cửu.)
From this reading Laughter is immortal.
irresistibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbəl/
impossible to resist; overpowering
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
the sound of laughing
From this reading But the world still laughs, and will laugh for ever, over the masterpiece of Cervantes and the burlesques of Voltaire.
laughsnounUS /læfs/
plural of “laugh” — the sound of laughing
From this reading But the world still laughs, and will laugh for ever, over the masterpiece of Cervantes and the burlesques of Voltaire.
the sound of laughing
From this reading Laughter is immortal.
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
manifestationsnounUS /ˌmænəfeˈsteɪʃənz/
plural of “manifestation” — a clear appearance
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
masterpiecenounUS /ˈmæstərpiːs/
the most outstanding work of a creative artist or craftsman
From this reading But the world still laughs, and will laugh for ever, over the masterpiece of Cervantes and the burlesques of Voltaire.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
novelsnounUS /ˈnɑːvəlz/
plural of “novel” — an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
nowadaysnounUS /ˈnaʊədeɪz/
the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
on one occasion
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
PetrarcanounUS /ˌpeˈtrɑːrkə/
an Italian poet famous for love lyrics (1304-1374)
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
rarestadjectiveUS /ˈrerəst/
superlative of “rare” — not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
sentimentaladjectiveUS /ˌsentəˈmentəl/
given to or marked by sentiment or sentimentality
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
get rid of
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
soporifics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
not in physical motion
From this reading But the world still laughs, and will laugh for ever, over the masterpiece of Cervantes and the burlesques of Voltaire.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Of all manifestations of literary genius humour is the rarest, and I am not sure that it is not the highest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
VoltairenounUS /voʊlˈter/
French writer who was the embodiment of 18th century Enlightenment (1694-1778)
From this reading But the world still laughs, and will laugh for ever, over the masterpiece of Cervantes and the burlesques of Voltaire.
at the time that
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The sentimental novels over which our grandfathers and grandmothers shed floods of tears—the “Corinnas,” the “Clarissas,” and the “New Heloises”—have become for us soporifics of an almost irresistible strength.
which person or people
From this reading Who nowadays can read from beginning to end Francesco Petrarca, and who can put down Giovanni Boccaccio when once begun?
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading But the world still laughs, and will laugh for ever, over the masterpiece of Cervantes and the burlesques of Voltaire.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading But the world still laughs, and will laugh for ever, over the masterpiece of Cervantes and the burlesques of Voltaire.
