used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
(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 But it is all right and righteous.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
ancientsnounUS /ˈeɪntʃənts/
people who lived in times long past (especially during the historical period before the fall of the Roman Empire in western Europe)
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But it is all right and righteous.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Our vaunted _elixir vito_ is the art of printing with moveable types.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It can be spared--this Jonah's gourd civilization of ours.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it is all right and righteous.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading It can be spared--this Jonah's gourd civilization of ours.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
civilizationnounUS /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)
From this reading It can be spared--this Jonah's gourd civilization of ours.
past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
elixirnounUS /ɪˈlɪksər/
a sweet flavored liquid (usually containing a small amount of alcohol) used in compounding medicines to be taken by mouth in order to mask an unpleasant taste
From this reading Our vaunted _elixir vito_ is the art of printing with moveable types.
fadingnounUS /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/
weakening in force or intensity
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
glimpsesnounUS /ˈɡlɪmpsɪz/
plural of “glimpse” — a quick look
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
gourdnounUS /ɡɔːrd/
bottle made from the dried shell of a bottle gourd
From this reading It can be spared--this Jonah's gourd civilization of ours.
only a very short time before
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
illuminationnounUS /ˌɪluːməˈneɪʃən/
a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it is all right and righteous.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it is all right and righteous.
Jonah's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It can be spared--this Jonah's gourd civilization of ours.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
moveableadjective
capable of being moved or conveyed from one place to another
From this reading Our vaunted _elixir vito_ is the art of printing with moveable types.
not any; not one
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It can be spared--this Jonah's gourd civilization of ours.
and nothing more
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our vaunted _elixir vito_ is the art of printing with moveable types.
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading It can be spared--this Jonah's gourd civilization of ours.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
perpetuitynounUS /ˌpɜːrpɪˈtjuːɪti/
the property of being perpetual (seemingly ceaseless)
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
printingnounUS /ˈprɪntɪŋ/
text handwritten in the style of printed matter
From this reading Our vaunted _elixir vito_ is the art of printing with moveable types.
precisely, exactly
From this reading But it is all right and righteous.
righteousadjectiveUS /ˈraɪtʃəs/
characterized by or proceeding from accepted standards of morality or justice
From this reading But it is all right and righteous.
rudimentsnounUS /ˈruːdɪmənts/
a statement of fundamental facts or principles
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
sparedverbUS /sperd/
past form of “spare” — refrain from harming
From this reading It can be spared--this Jonah's gourd civilization of ours.
splendors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
tallownounUS /ˈtæloʊ/
obtained from suet and used in making soap, candles and lubricants
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It can be spared--this Jonah's gourd civilization of ours.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
typesnounUS /taɪps/
plural of “type” — a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading Our vaunted _elixir vito_ is the art of printing with moveable types.
vauntedverbUS /ˈvɔːntɪd/
past form of “vaunt” — show off
From this reading Our vaunted _elixir vito_ is the art of printing with moveable types.
vito
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our vaunted _elixir vito_ is the art of printing with moveable types.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
From this reading We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We have hardly the rudiments of a true civilization; compared with the splendors of which we catch dim glimpses in the fading past, ours are as an illumination of tallow candles.
