used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
in actual fact
From this reading As it was, Hopkins himself actually prescribed our solemn behavior.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
appealedverbUS /əˈpiːld/
past form of “appeal” — take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As it was, Hopkins himself actually prescribed our solemn behavior.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
behaviornounUS /bɪˈheɪvjər/
manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading As it was, Hopkins himself actually prescribed our solemn behavior.
bobbingverbUS /ˈbɑːbɪŋ/
inflected form of “bob” — move up and down repeatedly
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
bowingnounUS /ˈboʊɪŋ/
bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading The crowd, as we slammed into the road, were pretty well upset.
decorousadjectiveUS /ˈdekərəs/
characterized by propriety and dignity and good taste in manners and conduct
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
greatly pleased
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
enjoiningnounUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
(law) a judicial remedy issued in order to prohibit a party from doing or continuing to do a certain activity
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
freakishadjective
changeable
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
death of a person
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
gravitynounUS /ˈɡrævəti/
(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading As it was, Hopkins himself actually prescribed our solemn behavior.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
HopkinsnounUS /ˈhɑːpkɪnz/
United States educator and theologian (1802-1887)
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
imitateverbUS /ˈɪməteɪt/
reproduce someone's behavior or looks
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
incongruousadjectiveUS /ˌɪŋˈkɔːŋruːəs/
lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The crowd, as we slammed into the road, were pretty well upset.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
and nothing more
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
the sound of laughing
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
ludicrousadjectiveUS /ˈluːdəkrəs/
broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
mandarinsnounUS /ˈmændərənz/
plural of “mandarin” — shrub or small tree having flattened globose fruit with very sweet aromatic pulp and thin yellow-orange to flame-orange rind that is loose and easily removed; native to southeastern Asia
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
mirthnounUS /mɜːrθ/
great merriment
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
not any; not one
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
and nothing more
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading As it was, Hopkins himself actually prescribed our solemn behavior.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
portentouslyadverb
in a portentous manner
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
prescribedadjectiveUS /priˈskraɪbd/
set down as a rule or guide
From this reading As it was, Hopkins himself actually prescribed our solemn behavior.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading The crowd, as we slammed into the road, were pretty well upset.
profoundlyadverbUS /proʊˈfaʊndli/
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
RASSELAS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
responsiveadjectiveUS /rɪˈspɑːnsɪv/
containing or using responses; alternating
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
risibilities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The crowd, as we slammed into the road, were pretty well upset.
salaaming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
sedatelyadverbUS /sɪˈdeɪtli/
in a sedate manner
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
slammedverbUS /slæmd/
inflected form of “slam” — close violently
From this reading The crowd, as we slammed into the road, were pretty well upset.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading As it was, Hopkins himself actually prescribed our solemn behavior.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
terminationnounUS /tərməˈneɪʃən/
a coming to an end of a contract period
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
tragicadjectiveUS /ˈtrædʒɪk/
very sad; especially involving grief or death or destruction
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
upsetverbUS /əpˈset/
disturb the balance or stability of
From this reading The crowd, as we slammed into the road, were pretty well upset.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It somehow appealed just then to his freakish sense of humor to appear portentously grave and decorous, and as he kept up his salaaming we fell in with the trick, and were bobbing away with the gravity of mandarins.
(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 crowd, as we slammed into the road, were pretty well upset.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
whirlwinds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
belonging to which person
From this reading But it was really no joke, and if Hopkins, whose risibilities were the least easily subdued, had ventured upon one of his whirlwinds of laughter, instead of sedately rising (enjoining us to imitate him) and bowing profoundly, it might have had a tragic termination.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading THE VALLEY OF RASSELAS It was an incongruous position, and a mind responsive only to the ludicrous would have been delighted with mirth over it.
