Word: captious
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1910-1919
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...with the exception of F. H. Bradley, of Oxford, the greatest representative on the later nineteenth century of the idealistic tradition. As the greatest modern idealist, he differed from others in his respect for science and in his mastery of the fundamentals of the sciences. Of the almost captious contempt which other idealists showed for the work of the sciences, he had none. There was room in his mind for all the contributions of materialism and science...
When criticism is made of the manner in which many courses in the University are conducted, the captious student often fails to appreciate fully the fact that it is no simple task for a professor to step down from the platform and view in retrospect faults in his system. If the latter were able to assume the dual role of lecturer and critic, even then it would not be surprising if many of the weaknesses in his treatment of the subject were overlooked...
...satire is always kindly, and usually illuminating. A captious critic might wish that some of the more obvious and familiar jests, like those concerning baked beans and squirrels with unfinished tails had been omitted; but this would only be because the merits of the old wit had been dimmed by the new. The thoughts that flow like the Charles River, the feather boa with which Boston can see nothing the matter because "It's the same that she's always worn," "the Unitarian who cannot be effectually told to go to the devil," the ghosts of the Beacon Hill mansion...