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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
abundant
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From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
almost
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From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
biographer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
biography
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Few men of equal genius and of equal eminence can have led on the whole a simpler life.
career
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From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
copious
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From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
critical
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From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
data
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From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
deficient
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From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
dramatic
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From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
EARLY
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From this reading EARLY YEARS.
eminence
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From this reading Few men of equal genius and of equal eminence can have led on the whole a simpler life.
equal
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From this reading Few men of equal genius and of equal eminence can have led on the whole a simpler life.
essay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
Few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few men of equal genius and of equal eminence can have led on the whole a simpler life.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
form
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From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
genius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few men of equal genius and of equal eminence can have led on the whole a simpler life.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Few men of equal genius and of equal eminence can have led on the whole a simpler life.
Hawthorne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
Hawthorne's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
incident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few men of equal genius and of equal eminence can have led on the whole a simpler life.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
limited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
lot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
measure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few men of equal genius and of equal eminence can have led on the whole a simpler life.
Nathaniel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Few men of equal genius and of equal eminence can have led on the whole a simpler life.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
quality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
reverse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
serve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
simpler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few men of equal genius and of equal eminence can have led on the whole a simpler life.
sketch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
strikingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
tranquil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
uneventful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Hawthorne's career was probably as tranquil and uneventful a one as ever fell to the lot of a man of letters; it was almost strikingly deficient in incident, in what may be called the dramatic quality.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few men of equal genius and of equal eminence can have led on the whole a simpler life.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It will be necessary, for several reasons, to give this short sketch the form rather of a critical essay than of a biography.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The data for a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne are the reverse of copious, and even if they were abundant they would serve but in a limited measure the purpose of the biographer.
YEARS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EARLY YEARS.
