used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Steele himself had not been a failure at his art.
abilitiesnounUS /əˈbɪlətiːz/
plural of “ability” — the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading Wealth, too, had drugged his energies, but had not crippled his abilities.
accordedverbUS /əˈkɔːrdɪd/
past form of “accord” — go together
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
applicationnounUS /ˌæpləˈkeɪʃən/
the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
appreciationnounUS /əˌpriːʃiˈeɪʃən/
understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Steele himself had not been a failure at his art.
a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Steele himself had not been a failure at his art.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Steele himself had not been a failure at his art.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading The extreme cleverness of his brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity of effort with too facile results.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Wealth, too, had drugged his energies, but had not crippled his abilities.
clevernessnounUS /ˈklev.ər.nəs/
The quality of being intelligent, quick to understand, and resourceful in danger.
From this reading The extreme cleverness of his brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity of effort with too facile results.
crippledadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪpəld/
disabled in the feet or legs
From this reading Wealth, too, had drugged his energies, but had not crippled his abilities.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
dilettantenoun
an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
dream-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
druggedadjectiveUS /drʌɡd/
under the influence of narcotics
From this reading Wealth, too, had drugged his energies, but had not crippled his abilities.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The extreme cleverness of his brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity of effort with too facile results.
energiesnounUS /ˈenərdʒiz/
plural of “energy” — (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading Wealth, too, had drugged his energies, but had not crippled his abilities.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading The extreme cleverness of his brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity of effort with too facile results.
facileadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəl/
superficially impressive, but lacking depth and attention to the true complexities of a subject
From this reading The extreme cleverness of his brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity of effort with too facile results.
an act that fails
From this reading Steele himself had not been a failure at his art.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
generalitynounUS /ˌdʒenərˈæləti/
an idea or conclusion having general application
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Steele himself had not been a failure at his art.
handicapnounUS /ˈhændikæp/
the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness
From this reading The extreme cleverness of his brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity of effort with too facile results.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Steele himself had not been a failure at his art.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Steele himself had not been a failure at his art.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
lullingverbUS /ˈlʌlɪŋ/
-ing form of “lull” — calm by deception
From this reading The extreme cleverness of his brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity of effort with too facile results.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
not able to be found
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
not any; not one
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Steele himself had not been a failure at his art.
a brief written record
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
and nothing more
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
outsetnounUS /ˈaʊtset/
the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading The extreme cleverness of his brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity of effort with too facile results.
prophetnounUS /ˈprɑːfət/
an authoritative person who divines the future
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The extreme cleverness of his brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity of effort with too facile results.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
sensitiveadjectiveUS /ˈsensətɪv/
responsive to physical stimuli
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
sinceritynounUS /sɪnˈserəti/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading The extreme cleverness of his brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity of effort with too facile results.
SteelenounUS /stiːl/
English writer (1672-1729)
From this reading Steele himself had not been a failure at his art.
temperamentnounUS /ˈtemprəmənt/
your usual mood
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The extreme cleverness of his brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity of effort with too facile results.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading Wealth, too, had drugged his energies, but had not crippled his abilities.
in or at the place that
From this reading The only note missing was the necessity for hard application, which might have made him the master where he was satisfied to be the dilettante.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was in him no want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than is accorded the generality.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The extreme cleverness of his brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity of effort with too facile results.
