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 But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ah! ill-natured wretches! you should save your breath to cool your own porridge!
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
Author
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ah! ill-natured wretches! you should save your breath to cool your own porridge!
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
calumniate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
cannibals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
Certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
churls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
consents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
consoles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
contents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
contumely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
cool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ah! ill-natured wretches! you should save your breath to cool your own porridge!
criticism
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
declared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
disgusted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
epithets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
esteem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
eternal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
everyonepronounUS /ˈevriwʌn/
every person
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
flowery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
Formerly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
Gomorrah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
hares
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
hinted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
ill-natured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ah! ill-natured wretches! you should save your breath to cool your own porridge!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
knowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
language
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
losing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
natal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
olden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ah! ill-natured wretches! you should save your breath to cool your own porridge!
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
patience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
pleasing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
porridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ah! ill-natured wretches! you should save your breath to cool your own porridge!
prologues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
remembering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
reproached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading Ah! ill-natured wretches! you should save your breath to cool your own porridge!
scribblers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Ah! ill-natured wretches! you should save your breath to cool your own porridge!
skin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
spare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
spoil-paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
stories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
style
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
sycophants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
telling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain persons have reproached the Author for knowing no more about the language of the olden times than hares do of telling stories.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
Tourainian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
vilest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
vilified
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Author consoles himself for his want of success in not pleasing everyone by remembering that an old Tourainian, of eternal memory, had put up with such contumely, that losing all patience, he declared in one of his prologues, that he would never more put pen to paper.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
wishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But the Author consents to spare them the flowery epithets of ancient criticism; he contents himself with wishing not to be in their skin, for he would be disgusted with himself, and esteem himself the vilest of scribblers thus to calumniate a poor little book which is not in the style of any spoil-paper of these times.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Formerly these people would have been vilified, called cannibals, churls, and sycophants, and Gomorrah would have been hinted at as their natal place.
wretches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ah! ill-natured wretches! you should save your breath to cool your own porridge!
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Ah! ill-natured wretches! you should save your breath to cool your own porridge!
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Ah! ill-natured wretches! you should save your breath to cool your own porridge!
