used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So, the sonnets of Petrarch are as unmeaning as the promises of candidates.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So, the sonnets of Petrarch are as unmeaning as the promises of candidates.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
candidatesnounUS /ˈkændədeɪts/
plural of “candidate” — a politician who is running for public office
From this reading So, the sonnets of Petrarch are as unmeaning as the promises of candidates.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
DantenounUS /ˈdɑːnteɪ/
an Italian poet famous for writing the Divine Comedy that describes a journey through Hell and purgatory and paradise guided by Virgil and his idealized Beatrice (1265-1321)
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
democracynounUS /dɪˈmɑːkrəsi/
the political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading They are filled not with genuine passion, but with the feelings that lovers are supposed to have.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading They are filled not with genuine passion, but with the feelings that lovers are supposed to have.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
genuineadjectiveUS /ˈdʒenjəwən/
not fake or counterfeit
From this reading They are filled not with genuine passion, but with the feelings that lovers are supposed to have.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They are filled not with genuine passion, but with the feelings that lovers are supposed to have.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
any place of pain and turmoil
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That is something to be thankful for.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
loversnounUS /ˈlʌvərz/
plural of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading They are filled not with genuine passion, but with the feelings that lovers are supposed to have.
malignitynoun
wishing evil to others
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
masterynounUS /ˈmæstəri/
great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They are filled not with genuine passion, but with the feelings that lovers are supposed to have.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading They are filled not with genuine passion, but with the feelings that lovers are supposed to have.
Petrarchnoun
an Italian poet famous for love lyrics (1304-1374)
From this reading So, the sonnets of Petrarch are as unmeaning as the promises of candidates.
popenounUS /poʊp/
the head of the Roman Catholic Church
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
promisesnounUS /ˈprɑːməsəz/
plural of “promise” — a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future
From this reading So, the sonnets of Petrarch are as unmeaning as the promises of candidates.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
revengefuladjective
disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, the sonnets of Petrarch are as unmeaning as the promises of candidates.
solemnitynounUS /səˈlemnəti/
a trait of dignified seriousness
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading That is something to be thankful for.
sonnetsnounUS /ˈsɑːnɪts/
plural of “sonnet” — a verse form consisting of 14 lines with a fixed rhyme scheme
From this reading So, the sonnets of Petrarch are as unmeaning as the promises of candidates.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
superstitionnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃən/
an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
required or under orders
From this reading They are filled not with genuine passion, but with the feelings that lovers are supposed to have.
thankfuladjectiveUS /ˈθæŋkfəl/
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading That is something to be thankful for.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That is something to be thankful for.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are filled not with genuine passion, but with the feelings that lovers are supposed to have.
a special situation
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
twinsnounUS /twɪnz/
(mineralogy) two interwoven crystals that are mirror images on each other
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
unmeaningadjective
without meaning
From this reading So, the sonnets of Petrarch are as unmeaning as the promises of candidates.
viciousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪʃəs/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading The vicious twins of superstition--malignity and solemnity--struggle for the mastery in his revengeful lines.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But there was one good thing about Dante: he had the courage, and what might be called the religious democracy, to see a pope in hell.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They are filled not with genuine passion, but with the feelings that lovers are supposed to have.
