used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Decades have a delusive edge to them.
(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 They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
attributesnounUS /ˈætrəbjuːts/
plural of “attribute” — a construct whereby objects or individuals can be distinguished
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
bearsnounUS /berz/
plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
Beerbohmnoun
English writer and caricaturist (1872-1956)
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
bordernounUS /ˈbɔːrdər/
a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
crudeadjectiveUS /kruːd/
not carefully or expertly made
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
decadentadjectiveUS /ˈdekədənt/
luxuriously self-indulgent
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
DecadesnounUS /deˈkeɪdz/
plural of “decade” — a period of 10 years
From this reading Decades have a delusive edge to them.
delusiveadjective
inappropriate to reality or facts
From this reading Decades have a delusive edge to them.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
dilettantenoun
an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Decades have a delusive edge to them.
apart from; not including
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
FIN-DE-SIÈCLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FIN-DE-SIÈCLE ROME THE threshold of the nineties.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Decades have a delusive edge to them.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
imperialadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɪriəl/
relating to or associated with an empire
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
KiplingnounUS /ˈkɪplɪŋ/
English author of novels and poetry who was born in India (1865-1936)
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
labelsnounUS /ˈleɪbəlz/
plural of “label” — a brief description given for purposes of identification
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
MaxnounUS /mæks/
street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
militantadjectiveUS /ˈmɪlətənt/
disposed to warfare or hard-line policies
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
ninetiesnounUS /ˈnaɪntiz/
the decade from 1890 to 1899
From this reading FIN-DE-SIÈCLE ROME THE threshold of the nineties.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FIN-DE-SIÈCLE ROME THE threshold of the nineties.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
patrioticadjectiveUS /ˌpeɪtriˈɑːtɪk/
inspired by love for your country
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
periodsnounUS /ˈpɪriədz/
plural of “period” — an amount of time
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
prophetnounUS /ˈprɑːfət/
an authoritative person who divines the future
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire
From this reading FIN-DE-SIÈCLE ROME THE threshold of the nineties.
express in words
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FIN-DE-SIÈCLE ROME THE threshold of the nineties.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Decades have a delusive edge to them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading FIN-DE-SIÈCLE ROME THE threshold of the nineties.
tienounUS /taɪ/
neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Decades have a delusive edge to them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.
wittyadjectiveUS /ˈwɪti/
combining clever conception and facetious expression
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
a late time of life
From this reading They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading The nineties, we say, were gay, tired, _fin-de-siècle_, witty, dilettante, decadent, yellow, and Max Beerbohm was their prophet; or they were noisy, imperial, patriotic, militant, crude, and Kipling was their prophet.
