Chapter XIX

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

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

(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 BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

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

From this reading _Cadet Grey_ is, in form, almost a parody of "Don Juan."

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

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

the sound of a bell rung in Roman Catholic churches to announce the time when the Angelus should be recited

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

take a court case to a higher court for review

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

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

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

past form of “ascribe” — attribute or credit to

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

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

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

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

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

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

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

a military trainee (as at a military academy)

From this reading _Cadet Grey_ is, in form, almost a parody of "Don Juan."

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

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

United States mythologist (1904-1987)

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

plural of “critic” — a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

many and different

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

a Spanish gentleman or nobleman

From this reading _Cadet Grey_ is, in form, almost a parody of "Don Juan."

divisible by two

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

communicated in words

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

a building or place that provides a particular service or is used for a particular industry

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

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

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading _Cadet Grey_ is, in form, almost a parody of "Don Juan."

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading _Cadet Grey_ is, in form, almost a parody of "Don Juan."

United States writer noted for his stories about life during the California gold rush (1836-1902)

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

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

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

-ing form of “imitate” — reproduce someone's behavior or looks

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

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

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

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

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

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

From this reading _Cadet Grey_ is, in form, almost a parody of "Don Juan."

immediately past

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

United States poet remembered for his long narrative poems (1807-1882)

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

for the most part

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

engage in

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

used to form the superlative

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

not any; not one

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

a brief written record

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Cadet Grey_ is, in form, almost a parody of "Don Juan."

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

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

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way

From this reading _Cadet Grey_ is, in form, almost a parody of "Don Juan."

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

by chance

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

literature in metrical form

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

a range horse of the western United States

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

all of the offspring of a given progenitor

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

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

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

ordinary writing as distinguished from verse

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

-ing form of “relate” — make a logical or causal connection

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

a French marshal who distinguished himself in the War of the Austrian Succession (1696-1750)

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

marked by correspondence or resemblance

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

a fixed number of lines of verse forming a unit of a poem

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

plural of “strike” — a group's refusal to work in protest against low pay or bad work conditions

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

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

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

a special situation

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.

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

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

the quality of being uneven and lacking uniformity

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

precisely as stated

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Even that very beautiful poem, _Conception de Arguello_, a thing almost perfect in its way, strikes no new note.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

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

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading BRET HARTE AS A POET Whether Bret Harte will make his appeal to posterity mainly as a poet or as a prose writer is a difficult question, upon which, as upon all similar matters relating to him, the critics have expressed the most diverse opinions.

plural of “writer” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading There is perhaps more unevenness in his poetry than in his prose, and certainly more facility in imitating other writers.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading _The Angelus_ might be ascribed to Longfellow (though he never could have written that last stanza), _The Tale of a Pony_ to Saxe or Barham, a few others to Praed, one to Campbell, and one to Calverley.