used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
how long something has existed
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
apologistnounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒəst/
a person who argues to defend or justify some policy or institution
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
censurenounUS /ˈsenʃər/
harsh criticism or disapproval
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
chivalrynounUS /ˈʃɪvəlri/
courtesy towards women
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading His expression is downright, and somewhat coarse.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
confessedverbUS /kənˈfest/
past form of “confess” — confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
disciplinenounUS /ˈdɪsəplən/
a branch of knowledge
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
downrightadverbUS /ˈdaʊnraɪt/
thoroughgoing
From this reading His expression is downright, and somewhat coarse.
ELIZABETH'SnounUS /ɪˈlɪzəbəθs/
possessive form of “elizabeth” — daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
enamoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading His expression is downright, and somewhat coarse.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
fanaticismnounUS /fəˈnætəsɪzəm/
excessive intolerance of opposing views
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
fantasticadjectiveUS /fænˈtæstɪk/
ludicrously odd
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
furiousadjectiveUS /ˈfjʊriəs/
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
gallantrynounUS /ˈɡæləntri/
the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle)
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
for this reason
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His expression is downright, and somewhat coarse.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
incredibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbəl/
beyond belief or understanding
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
institutionnounUS /ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃən/
an organization founded and united for a specific purpose
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His expression is downright, and somewhat coarse.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
knightsnounUS /naɪts/
plural of “knight” — originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
misconstruedverbUS /ˌmɪskənˈstruːd/
past form of “misconstrue” — interpret in the wrong way
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
moralsnounUS /ˈmɔːrəlz/
motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
not any; not one
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
originnounUS /ˈɔːrədʒən/
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
ornamentsnounUS /ˈɔːrnəmənts/
plural of “ornament” — something used to beautify
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
passeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
refinedadjectiveUS /rəˈfaɪnd/
(used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
refinementnounUS /rəˈfaɪnmənt/
a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
relaxverbUS /rɪˈlæks/
become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
representsverbUS /ˌreprɪˈzents/
third-person singular of “represent” — take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
romancesnounUS /roʊˈmænsɪz/
plural of “romance” — a relationship between two lovers
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
plural of “run” — a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading His expression is downright, and somewhat coarse.
speaksverbUS /spiːks/
third-person singular of “speak” — express in speech
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
spiritualadjectiveUS /ˈspɪrɪtʃuːəl/
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
a special situation
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
precisely as stated
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
vigournoun
forceful exertion
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading And hence, no doubt, we are to account for that censure which a famous writer, and one of the ornaments of ELIZABETH’S own age, passeth on the old books of chivalry.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading One sees then the origin of that furious gallantry which runs through the old romances.
which person or people
From this reading At the same time it must be confessed that this discipline was of a nature very likely to relax itself under another state of things, and certainly to be misconstrued by those who should come to look upon these pictures of a _refined and spiritual passion_, as incredible and fantastic.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading And so long as the _refinement and fanaticism_, which the writer speaks of, were kept in full vigour by the force of institution and the fashion of the times, the morals of these enamoured knights might, for any thing I know, be as pure as their apologist represents them.
