used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
acquaintancesnounUS /əˈkweɪntənsɪz/
plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
eagerly desirous
From this reading She had learnt that the people she wished to know were apt not to be anxious to know her; rather the other way.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading She had learnt that the people she wished to know were apt not to be anxious to know her; rather the other way.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had learnt that the people she wished to know were apt not to be anxious to know her; rather the other way.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
considerablyadverbUS /kənˈsɪdərəbli/
to a great extent or degree
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading She had to be content with the society of those who did wish to know her.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She had to be content with the society of those who did wish to know her.
discriminatesverbUS /dɪˈskrɪməneɪts/
third-person singular of “discriminate” — recognize or perceive the difference
From this reading The lady's hospitality was scarcely of the kind which discriminates.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
GregorynounUS /ˈɡreɡəri/
(Roman Catholic Church) a church father known for his constant fight against perceived heresies; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-391)
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
hospitalitynounUS /ˌhɑːspəˈtæləti/
kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
From this reading The lady's hospitality was scarcely of the kind which discriminates.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The lady's hospitality was scarcely of the kind which discriminates.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She had learnt that the people she wished to know were apt not to be anxious to know her; rather the other way.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The lady's hospitality was scarcely of the kind which discriminates.
Lamb'snounUS /læmz/
possessive form of “lamb” — young sheep
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
learntverbUS /lɜːrnt/
inflected form of “learn” — gain knowledge or skills
From this reading She had learnt that the people she wished to know were apt not to be anxious to know her; rather the other way.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
nondescriptadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːndɪˈskrɪpt/
lacking distinct or individual characteristics; dull and uninteresting
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had learnt that the people she wished to know were apt not to be anxious to know her; rather the other way.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She had learnt that the people she wished to know were apt not to be anxious to know her; rather the other way.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading She had learnt that the people she wished to know were apt not to be anxious to know her; rather the other way.
select carefully from a group
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
on the contrary
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
only a very short time before
From this reading The lady's hospitality was scarcely of the kind which discriminates.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading She had to be content with the society of those who did wish to know her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had learnt that the people she wished to know were apt not to be anxious to know her; rather the other way.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She had to be content with the society of those who did wish to know her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Had she set herself to pick and choose her acquaintances, their number might have been considerably less.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading OUT OF THE BLUE Mrs. Gregory Lamb's "At Home" was crowded by rather a nondescript gathering.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She had learnt that the people she wished to know were apt not to be anxious to know her; rather the other way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She had learnt that the people she wished to know were apt not to be anxious to know her; rather the other way.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The lady's hospitality was scarcely of the kind which discriminates.
which person or people
From this reading She had to be content with the society of those who did wish to know her.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading She had to be content with the society of those who did wish to know her.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading She had learnt that the people she wished to know were apt not to be anxious to know her; rather the other way.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had to be content with the society of those who did wish to know her.
