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Backlog Studies
Backlog Studies

Chapter XIV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Backlog Studies

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
Line 2
It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
Line 3
What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
Line 4
The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
Line 5
If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.”

Somebody pronoun US /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading “The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.”

All words in this reading · 111

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

any

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

ascertain

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

attention

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

bad

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

bestow

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

bluntly

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

certainly

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

commendation

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

comparing

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

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

comparison

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

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

copies

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

copyists

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

critic

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

critic's

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

Criticism

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

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

damning

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

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

declare

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

defects

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

Dickens

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

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

discrimination

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

dismissed

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

disposing

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

else

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

enough

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

equals

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

especially

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

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

eulogy

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

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

excellences

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

finer

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

gifts

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

good-natured

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

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

imitators

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

incapables

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

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

indeed

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

justice

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

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

lazy

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

literature

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

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

lives

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

machines

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

making

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

mere

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

merely

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

meritorious

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

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

model

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

novelist

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

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

own

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

painters

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

pass

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

pictures

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

poet

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

probably

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

qualities

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

refuge

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

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

Scott

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

smothering

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

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

sort

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

style

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

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

subject

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

Tennyson

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

thoughtless

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

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

trouble

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

true

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

From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.

unjust

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

way

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

well

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

worth

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

From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.

wrote

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.

young

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

From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.