Chapter III · Chapter 3

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

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

later than; following

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

in the past

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

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

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

relating to or characteristic of art or artists

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy

From this reading It was the best poem he had written for a long time, and when it was finished, he came down the wood impatient to read it to Beatrice.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading It was the best poem he had written for a long time, and when it was finished, he came down the wood impatient to read it to Beatrice.

propose a payment

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

brought into existence

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading It was the best poem he had written for a long time, and when it was finished, he came down the wood impatient to read it to Beatrice.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

third-person singular of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading It was the best poem he had written for a long time, and when it was finished, he came down the wood impatient to read it to Beatrice.

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

the feeling of being bored by something tedious

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

in a faithful manner

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state

From this reading It was the best poem he had written for a long time, and when it was finished, he came down the wood impatient to read it to Beatrice.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was the best poem he had written for a long time, and when it was finished, he came down the wood impatient to read it to Beatrice.

set up or found

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

a young female

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

a farewell remark

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

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

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was the best poem he had written for a long time, and when it was finished, he came down the wood impatient to read it to Beatrice.

the one or ones belonging to her

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition

From this reading It was the best poem he had written for a long time, and when it was finished, he came down the wood impatient to read it to Beatrice.

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

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

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

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

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 Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

held dear

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

imaginative intellectual play

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

and nothing more

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

in ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

of an obscure nature

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

the world's longest river (4150 miles); flows northward through eastern Africa into the Mediterranean; the Nile River valley in Egypt was the site of the world's first great civilization

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

not any; not one

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

on one occasion

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading It was the best poem he had written for a long time, and when it was finished, he came down the wood impatient to read it to Beatrice.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

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

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

deliver by singing

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

an inscrutable person who keeps his thoughts and intentions secret

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

comparative of “subtle” — difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

happening unexpectedly

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

your usual mood

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

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

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It was the best poem he had written for a long time, and when it was finished, he came down the wood impatient to read it to Beatrice.

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

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading But a day or two after the coming of Silencieux, Antony found himself suddenly inspired once more to sing of his wife.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

at the time that

From this reading It was the best poem he had written for a long time, and when it was finished, he came down the wood impatient to read it to Beatrice.

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

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

which person or people

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

in the company of; together with

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading It was the best poem he had written for a long time, and when it was finished, he came down the wood impatient to read it to Beatrice.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

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

From this reading Surely it was from no lack of love, this silence, but merely due to the working of what would seem to be a law of the artistic temperament: that to turn a muse into a wife, however long and faithfully loved, is to bid good-bye to the muse.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

a late time of life

From this reading THE NORTHERN SPHINX Antony had not written a poem to his wife since their little girl Wonder had been born, now some four years ago.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading This was the poem, which he called "The Northern Sphinx":-- Sphinx of the North, with subtler smile Than hers who in the yellow South, With make-believe mysterious mouth, Deepens the _ennui_ of the Nile;