The definitions page contains the definitions for selected words in the poem. The definitions are ordered in the sequence in which they appear in the poem. Words that have no extraordinary meaning to the poem but which the commentator feels may be out of the everyday usage have been linked to this page. However, to allow a reader who already knows what these words mean to avoid following unfruitful links, only the first letter of a definition is linked. This keeps the poem from looking too cluttered but still offers those who are not as familar with the words (e.g., foreign exchange students) a handy online definition.
If a full word or phrase is linked it means that there is more important meaning to the poem. See an example of how definitions and allusions are treated in the poem in the section between line 279 and line 282.
Some definitions have a link to Dictionary.com. If you select one of these links then the page Dictionary.com would show for the selected word will be displayed in the AUXILARY window.
A colonade is a series of columns set at regular intervals,
often supporting a roof.
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Waste or rejected matter; anything worthless; valueless stuff; trash;
especially, fragments of building materials or fallen buildings;
ruins; debris.
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Hyacinth, noun,: A bulbous plant of the genus Hyacinthus,
bearing beautiful spikes of fragrant flowers. The name is perhaps
derived from Hyacinthus, a beautiful Laconian youth, beloved by
Apollo. The hyacinth was fabled to have sprung from the blood of
Hyacinthus, who was accidentally killed by Apollo.
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Also clairvoyant, noun: One who is able, when in a mesmeric state, to discern objects not present to the senses.
Clairvoyant, noun:
A person, commonly a woman, who has the power of seeing that which is invisible to her patron -- namely, that he is a blockhead.Ambrose Bierce
There is a choice of meanings here.
Wicked may mean evil, non-Christian or it may be the American slang
expression meaning extraordinary as in "wicked cool pack of cards".
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Phoenicia was an ancient trading and seafaring nation on the coast of
present day Israel, Lebanon and Syria.
In North Africa Phoenicians founded Carthage as a colony.
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Belladonna is Latin for "beautiful lady".
It is also a poisonous plant.
The name of the plant comes from the practice of women
using small doses of the poison as a cosmetic to dilate their pupils.
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A long piece of wood; a staff; a stick.
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Horoscope, noun: The representation made of the aspect of the heavens
at the moment of a person's birth, by which the astrologer professed
to foretell the events of the person's life; the foretelling itself.
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Hence, adverb: From here; away (also: from which).
Thence, adverb: From there.
Whence, adverb: From where.
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Here glass means mirror.
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A naked infantile figure looking like the Roman god of love.
A candlestick holding several candles from a branched stem.
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A salve or ointment.
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A ceiling made of recessed panels.
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A ceiling made of recessed panels.
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The finish around a fireplace, covering the chimney-breast in front
and sometimes on both sides; especially, a shelf above the fireplace,
and its supports. [Also written as mantle.]
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Sylvan, adjective: Of or pertaining to woods; composed of woods or
groves; woody. Also silvan.
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Inviolable, adjective: Not violable; not susceptible of hurt, wound,
or harm (used with respect to either physical or moral damage); not
susceptible of being profaned or corrupted; sacred; holy; as,
inviolable honor or chastity; an inviolable shrine.
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Demobilized. Released from military service.
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Here smart means fashionable, good looking.
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Here teeth means dentures.
British term for pharmacist or druggist.
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Ham
A nature divinity in the form of a beautiful young woman.
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The Thames River which flows through London.
Here testimony is being used in the sense of evidence.
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To make a quick succession of sharp, inharmonious noises, as by the
collision of hard and not very sonorous bodies shaken together; to
clatter.
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A room directly below a roof such as one constructed in an attic.
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Eliot's notes
define c.i.f. as "carriage and insurance free."
In fact, c.i.f. means "cost, insurance and freight."
Of the people or popular, common, vulgar.
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Tin cans.
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A backless sofa or couch
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A teat, pap, or nipple; -- former usage was that of a human mother,
modern usage refers to that of a cow or other beast.
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Convenient; auspicious; favorable;
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Not rebuked for a fault or misdeed.
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Idle talk; rapid, thoughtless talk; jabber; prattle.
Fishmen - Sellers of fish (not fishermen).
The side of a ship, hill, island, etc. furthest from the oncoming wind.
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An extended portion of land or water; a stretch; a straight portion of
a stream or river, as from one turn to another; a level stretch, as
between locks in a canal; an arm of the sea extending up into the
land.
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Nautical term for the after or rear end of a
ship, boat or other vessel.
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Covered with a thin layer of gold.
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A long narrow boat propelled by men using oars.
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The coast or land adjacent to a
large body of water, as an ocean, lake, or large river.
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Lying on one's back.
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The space of fourteen days; two weeks.
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A wave, or billow; especially, a succession of
large waves; the roll of the sea after a storm;
A wave that is not breaking.
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Gentile, noun:
One of a non-Jewish nation; one neither a Jew nor a Christian;
a worshiper of false gods; a heathen.
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The side of a ship, hill, island, etc. closest to the on-coming wind.
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To echo; to resound;
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Affected with caries (cavities); decaying;
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Producing little or no crop;
barren; unfruitful; unproductive; not fertile.
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1. State of being alone, or
withdrawn from society; a lonely life; loneliness.
2. Remoteness from society; destitution of company;
seclusion; -- said of places; as, the solitude of a
wood.
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Gloomily angry and silent; cross; sour; affected
with ill humor; morose.
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To show contempt by turning up
the nose, or by a particular facial expression.
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To growl, as an angry or surly dog; to gnarl; to
utter grumbling sounds.
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Any species of the genus Cicada. They are large hemipterous insects,
with nearly transparent wings. The male makes a shrill sound by
pecular organs in the under side of the abdomen, consisting of a pair
of stretched membranes, acted upon by powerful muscles. A noted
American species (C. septendecim) is called the seventeen year
locust. Another common species is the dogday cicada.
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Archaic form for wrapped.
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A loose garment to be worn over other garments; an enveloping robe; a
cloak. Hence, figuratively, a covering or concealing envelope.
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To restore to a former good state.
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Recalling to mind, or capable of recalling to mind; having remembrance;
reminding one of something.
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Cistern, noun:
An artificial reservoir or tank for holding water (particularly rainwater)
or other liquids.
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Chapel, noun:
1) A subordinate place of worship; as, (a) a small church, often a private foundation, as for a memorial; (b) a small building attached to a church; (c) a room or recess in a church, containing an altar.
2) A place of worship not connected with a church;
as, the chapel of a palace, hospital, or prison.
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Rooster
The main beam or ridge in the angle of a roof; the roof itself.
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Discretion; carefulness; wisdom in the way of caution and provision;
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To withdraw; to recall; to disavow; to recant; to take back; as, to
retract an accusation or an assertion.
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A solicitor is one of two types of British lawyers. The solicitor
handles legal issues such as handling estates while a barrister handles
cases in court.
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The coast or land adjacent to a
large body of water, as an ocean, lake, or large river.
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To shore is to prop something up or support to prevent tipping,
sagging or collapse.
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The definitions page contains the definitions for selected words in the poem. The definitions are ordered in the sequence in which they appear in the poem. Words that have no extraordinary meaning to the poem but which the commentator feels may be out of the everyday usage have been linked to this page. However, to allow a reader who already knows what these words mean to avoid following unfruitful links, only the first letter of a definition is linked. This keeps the poem from looking too cluttered but still offers those who are not as familar with the words (e.g., foreign exchange students) a handy online definition.
If a full word or phrase is linked it means that there is more important meaning to the poem. See an example of how definitions and allusions are treated in the poem in the section between line 279 and line 282.
Some definitions have a link to Dictionary.com. If you select one of these links then the page Dictionary.com would show for the selected word will be displayed in the AUXILARY window.