A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time. Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go. The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.” Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
Reading 1/1 · 4 reading units · Lines 1–4
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
any of various small biting flies: midges; biting midges; black flies; sand flies
From this reading “A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
any of various small biting flies: midges; biting midges; black flies; sand flies
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A GNAT settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
at the time that
From this reading The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The Bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
What is the central philosophical inquiry and narrative progression in 'Act 01: The Discourse of The Gnat and the Bull — The Origin & The Dilemma'?
How does the prose style reflect classical academic excellence?
What primary language acquisition value does this text offer advanced English scholars?
