used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They went in their best dresses and took their tennis rackets with them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
behaviournounUS /bɪˈheɪvjər/
the action or reaction of something (as a machine or substance) under specified circumstances
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading They went in their best dresses and took their tennis rackets with them.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
coerciveadjectiveUS /koʊˈɜːrsɪv/
serving or intended to coerce
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
demandsnounUS /dɪˈmændz/
plural of “demand” — an urgent or peremptory request
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading To-day, however, the Glyn Williams did not wish for quarrels.
dressesnounUS /ˈdresəz/
plural of “dress” — a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
From this reading They went in their best dresses and took their tennis rackets with them.
evadingverbUS /ɪˈveɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “evade” — avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
enclose with a fence
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To-day, however, the Glyn Williams did not wish for quarrels.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
Glyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading To-day, however, the Glyn Williams did not wish for quarrels.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
immediately past
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
social deportment
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
march in a procession
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
MavisnounUS /ˈmeɪvɪs/
common Old World thrush noted for its song
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
meetsnounUS /miːts/
plural of “meet” — a meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
MerlenounUS /mɜːrl/
common black European thrush
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
moodsnounUS /muːdz/
plural of “mood” — a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
not any; not one
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
a human being
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
politenessnounUS /pəˈlaɪtnəs/
a courteous manner that respects accepted social usage
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
preservesnounUS /prəˈzɜːrvz/
fruit preserved by cooking with sugar
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
quarrelsnounUS /ˈkwɔːrəlz/
plural of “quarrel” — an angry dispute
From this reading To-day, however, the Glyn Williams did not wish for quarrels.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
racketsnounUS /ˈrækəts/
plural of “racket” — a loud and disturbing noise
From this reading They went in their best dresses and took their tennis rackets with them.
Ramsays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
remembrancenounUS /riˈmembrəns/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
skirmishesnounUS /ˈskɜːrmɪʃɪz/
plural of “skirmish” — a minor short-term fight
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
squabblenounUS /ˈskwɑːbəl/
a quarrel about petty points
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
tennisnounUS /ˈtenəs/
a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court
From this reading They went in their best dresses and took their tennis rackets with them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They went in their best dresses and took their tennis rackets with them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They went in their best dresses and took their tennis rackets with them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They went in their best dresses and took their tennis rackets with them.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
To-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day, however, the Glyn Williams did not wish for quarrels.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading They went in their best dresses and took their tennis rackets with them.
precisely as stated
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
WarrennounUS /ˈwɔːrən/
United States writer and poet (1905-1989)
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They went in their best dresses and took their tennis rackets with them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
which person or people
From this reading There is no better fence than good manners, and it is really impossible to squabble with a person who preserves a studied politeness.
WilliamsnounUS /ˈwɪljəmz/
United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)
From this reading Greek meets Greek On the last Saturday in March, by special invitation from Mrs. Glyn Williams, the Ramsays spent the day at The Warren.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading To-day, however, the Glyn Williams did not wish for quarrels.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading They were not at all sure whether they wished to go, but it was one of those coercive visits which society demands, and which there is no evading, so they set forth, Mavis in one of her quiet moods, and Merle, with an awkward remembrance of past skirmishes, on her very best behaviour.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They went in their best dresses and took their tennis rackets with them.
