Question

And such is the fate of hapless lexicography, that not only darkness, but light, impedes and distresses it; things may be not only too little, but too much known, to be happily illustrated.

What is the best definition of the underlined word as it is used in the sentence?

unlucky or unfortunate; pitiable
unknown or unfamiliar; mysterious
without intelligence; foolish
without tenderness; harsh

Answer 1

A-Unlucky or unfortunate; pitiable

I just took the test

Answer 2

The underline word for this one is hapless. My answer would be unlucky or unfortunate; pitiable. In this context, the narrator talks about the unlucky person who is compiling a series of dictionaries or lexicographies. Compiling it may be very complicated and long but at the end, there is something good that comes out from such action.