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The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter

Chapter XXII

Chapter 22, section 1: But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age. The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.
The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.
They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.
Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.
Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Scarlet Letter

Chapter XXII

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.
Line 2
The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.
Line 3
They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.
Line 4
Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.
Line 5
Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

perhaps adverb US /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading “But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.”

Collocations
But weA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
we perhapsA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 101

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

age

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

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

all

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

appear

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

banquets

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

bonfires

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

Boston

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

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

brilliant

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

ceremonies

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

characterized

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

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

combine

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

Elizabethan

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

embroidery

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

England

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

Englishmen

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

epoch

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

events

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

exaggerate

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

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

fathers

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

festivals

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

followed

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

give

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

gloom

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

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

gray

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

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

grotesque

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

hereditary

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

illustrated

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

importance

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

impracticable

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

inheritance

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

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

joyous

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

lived

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

magnificent

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

majestic

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

manners

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

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

market-place

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

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

mass

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

mirthful

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

mood

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

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

nation

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

native

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

New

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

now

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

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

observance

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

pageantries

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

persons

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

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

processions

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

public

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

Puritanic

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

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

puts

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

recreation

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

richness

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

robe

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

sable

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

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

settlers

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

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

solemnity

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

state

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

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

stately

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

sunny

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

tasteverbUS /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Had they followed their hereditary taste, the New England settlers would have illustrated all events of public importance by bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

tinge

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

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The persons now in the market-place of Boston had not been born to an inheritance of Puritanic gloom.

undoubtedly

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

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

viewed

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But we perhaps exaggerate the gray or sable tinge, which undoubtedly characterized the mood and manners of the age.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Nor would it have been impracticable, in the observance of majestic ceremonies, to combine mirthful recreation with solemnity, and give, as it were, a grotesque and brilliant embroidery to the great robe of state, which a nation, at such festivals, puts on.

witnessed

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

world

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

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading They were native Englishmen, whose fathers had lived in the sunny richness of the Elizabethan epoch; a time when the life of England, viewed as one great mass, would appear to have been as stately, magnificent, and joyous, as the world has ever witnessed.