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The Black Tulip
The Black Tulip

Chapter VI · The Hatred of a Tulip-fancier

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Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.
Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.
Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.
Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.
He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Black Tulip

Chapter VI · The Hatred of a Tulip-fancier

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.
Line 2
Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.
Line 3
Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.
Line 4
Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.
Line 5
He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

Learner Dictionary

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

Colours noun US /ˈcolours/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.””

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.”

Uttered noun US /ˈuttered/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.””

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.”

All words in this reading · 106

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

1653

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From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

all

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

anxiety

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

any

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

aphorism

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

apply

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From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

Baerle

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

begun

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

belonged

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

best

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

better

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

boast

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

Boxtel's

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

cause

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From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

century

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

changed

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

climate

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

coloursnounUS /ˈcolours/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

congenial

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

constant

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

deadening

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

despise

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

easily

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

else

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

exertions

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

fancy

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

favourite

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

finest

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

flowers

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

God

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

growing

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

Haarlem

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

Henceforth

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

how

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

humorous

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

imagined

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

Indeed

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

ingenuity

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

injury

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

interest

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

knew

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

Leyden

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

longer

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

misery

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

modify

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

moment

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

most

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

motto

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

natural

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

neighbour

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

new

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

number

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

occupation

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

offend

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

only

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

produce

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

ran

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

school

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

seventeenth

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

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

shape

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

soil

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

sooner

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

source

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

species

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

stimulus

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

succeeded

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

thoughts

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

thus

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

towns

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

tulips

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

two

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

utterednounUS /ˈuttered/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

Van

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

From this reading Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he succeeded in growing the finest tulips.

vary

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

From this reading Indeed, he knew better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden--the two towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial climate--how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and to produce new species.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading From that moment Boxtel’s interest in tulips was no longer a stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered by one of their number in 1653,--“To despise flowers is to offend God.”

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him.