adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
Addison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
affiliationnounUS /əˌfɪliˈeɪʃən/
a social or business relationship
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
AlthoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
antiquatedadjectiveUS /ˈæntəkweɪtɪd/
so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
apprehendedadjectiveUS /ˌæprɪˈhendɪd/
fully understood or grasped
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
becomingadjectiveUS /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/
according with custom or propriety
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
belongedverbUS /bɪˈlɔːŋd/
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
birthnounUS /bɜːrθ/
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
ByronnounUS /ˈbaɪrən/
English romantic poet notorious for his rebellious and unconventional lifestyle (1788-1824)
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
callverbUS /kɔːl/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
caughtverbUS /kɑːt/
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
centurynounUS /ˈsentʃəri/
a period of 100 years
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
checkverbUS /tʃek/
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
ColeridgenounUS /ˈkoʊlrɪdʒ/
English romantic poet (1772-1834)
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
crudeadjectiveUS /kruːd/
not carefully or expertly made
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜːrmənd/
characterized by great determination
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
directionnounUS /dərˈekʃən/
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
entertainverbUS /ˌentərˈteɪn/
provide entertainment for
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
environmentnounUS /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
the totality of surrounding conditions
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
excitedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtəd/
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His face was set towards the past, not towards the future.
facesnounUS /ˈfeɪsəz/
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
feverishnessnoun
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
foodnounUS /fuːd/
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
forcedadjectiveUS /fɔːrst/
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
foreignadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrən/
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/
yet to be or coming
From this reading His face was set towards the past, not towards the future.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
harrowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
imaginationnounUS /ˌɪmædʒəˈneɪʃən/
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
induceverbUS /ˌɪnˈduːs/
cause to arise
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
intellectualadjectiveUS /ˌɪntəˈlektʃuːəl/
of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
KeatsnounUS /kiːts/
Englishman and romantic poet (1795-1821)
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
lamentingadjectiveUS /ləˈmentɪŋ/
vocally expressing grief or sorrow or resembling such expression
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
landnounUS /lænd/
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
largelyadverbUS /ˈlɑːrdʒli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/
the literary culture
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
literaryadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəreri/
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
literaturenounUS /ˈlɪtərətʃər/
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
LordnounUS /lɔːrd/
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
MacaulaynounUS /məˈkɔːli/
English historian noted for his history of England (1800-1859)
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
mentaladjectiveUS /ˈmentəl/
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
mockingadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːkɪŋ/
abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
modernadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdərn/
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
musingnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪŋ/
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
necessitynounUS /nəˈsesəti/
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
nourishmentnounUS /ˈnɜːrɪʃmənt/
a source of materials to nourish the body
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
offerverbUS /ˈɔːfər/
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
optimisticadjectiveUS /ˌɑːptəˈmɪstɪk/
expecting the best in this best of all possible worlds
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
pastnounUS /pæst/
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
pessimistnounUS /ˈpesəməst/
a person who expects the worst
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
placidadjectiveUS /ˈplæsəd/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
pleasedadjectiveUS /pliːzd/
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
propheticadjectiveUS /prəˈfetɪk/
foretelling events as if by supernatural intervention
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
reflectionnounUS /rɪˈflekʃən/
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
restlessnessnounUS /ˈrestləsnəs/
the quality of being ceaselessly moving or active
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
retrospectivenounUS /ˌretrəˈspektɪv/
an exhibition of a representative selection of an artist's life work
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
revertverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrt/
go back to a previous state
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading His face was set towards the past, not towards the future.
ShelleynounUS /ˈʃeli/
English writer who created Frankenstein's monster and married Percy Bysshe Shelley (1797-1851)
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
shoneverbUS /ʃoʊn/
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
singularlyadverbUS /ˈsɪŋɡjələrli/
in a singular manner or to a singular degree
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
stimulatingadjectiveUS /ˈstɪmjəleɪtɪŋ/
rousing or quickening activity or the senses
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
stirverbUS /stɜːr/
move an implement through
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
strainnounUS /streɪn/
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
suggestiveadjectiveUS /səˈdʒestɪv/
tending to suggest or imply
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
tendernessnounUS /ˈtendərnəs/
a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He never caught the restlessness of this century, nor the prophetic light that shone in the faces of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats; if he apprehended the stir of the new spirit, he still, by mental affiliation, belonged rather to the age of Addison than to that of Macaulay.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading His face was set towards the past, not towards the future.
traditionnounUS /trəˈdɪʃən/
an inherited pattern of thought or action
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
traditionsnounUS /trəˈdɪʃənz/
plural of “tradition” — an inherited pattern of thought or action
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
voidadjectiveUS /vɔɪd/
lacking any legal or binding force
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
warmadjectiveUS /wɔːrm/
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And his placid, retrospective, optimistic strain pleased a public that were excited and harrowed by the mocking and lamenting of Lord Byron, and, singularly enough, pleased even the great pessimist himself.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
writingsnounUS /ˈraɪtɪŋz/
the third of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures
From this reading His writings induce to reflection; to quiet musing, to tenderness for tradition; they amuse, they entertain, they call a check to the feverishness of modern life; but they are rarely stimulating or suggestive.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Although the direction of his work as a man of letters was largely determined by his early surroundings,--that is, by his birth in a land void of traditions, and into a society without much literary life, so that his intellectual food was of necessity a foreign literature that was at the moment becoming a little antiquated in the land of its birth, and his warm imagination was forced to revert to the past for that nourishment which his crude environment did not offer,--yet he was by nature a retrospective man.
