used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
amateursnounUS /ˈæmətɜːrz/
plural of “amateur” — someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
commendverbUS /kəˈmend/
express approval of
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
endurancenounUS /ˈendərəns/
the power to withstand hardship or stress
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
foistverbUS /fɔɪst/
to force onto another
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
inculcating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
INTRODUCTIONnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/
the act of beginning something new
From this reading INTRODUCTION.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
magazinenounUS /ˈmæɡəziːn/
a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
moralsnounUS /ˈmɔːrəlz/
motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
motivenounUS /ˈmoʊtɪv/
the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
newspapersnounUS /ˈnuːzpeɪpərz/
plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
poorlyadverbUS /ˈpuːrli/
(“ill” is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
presumptionnounUS /prɪˈzʌmpʃən/
an assumption that is taken for granted
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
printnounUS /prɪnt/
the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
repaidverbUS /riˈpeɪd/
inflected form of “repay” — pay back
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
only a very short time before
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
seeksnounUS /siːks/
plural of “seek” — the movement of a read/write head to a specific data track on a disk
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
sketchesnounUS /ˈsketʃəz/
plural of “sketch” — preliminary drawing for later elaboration
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
teachingnounUS /ˈtiːtʃɪŋ/
the profession of a teacher
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
teemingadjectiveUS /ˈtiːmɪŋ/
abundantly filled with especially living things
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
a special situation
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
versesnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/
plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form
From this reading Many of these sketches and verses have appeared in print before, in newspapers and a magazine or two; many are seeing the light of day for the first time.
precisely as stated
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
at the time that
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
worthiestadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrðiəst/
superlative of “worthy” — having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable
From this reading There is scarcely room in the literary world for amateurs and maiden efforts; the very worthiest are sometimes poorly repaid for their best efforts.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading In this day when the world is fairly teeming with books,--good books, books written with a motive, books inculcating morals, books teaching lessons,--it seems almost a piece of presumption too great for endurance to foist another upon the market.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet, another one is offered the public, a maiden effort,--a little thing with absolutely nothing to commend it, that seeks to do nothing more than amuse.
