used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
Aldens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
(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 So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Then, in sober earnest, he had to take up the duties of life and make the best of them.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
civilitynounUS /səˈvɪləti/
formal or perfunctory politeness
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Then, in sober earnest, he had to take up the duties of life and make the best of them.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading Then, in sober earnest, he had to take up the duties of life and make the best of them.
divisible by two
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
at any time
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
exchangedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒd/
changed for (replaced by) something different
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
festivitiesnounUS /feˈstɪvətiz/
plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then, in sober earnest, he had to take up the duties of life and make the best of them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then, in sober earnest, he had to take up the duties of life and make the best of them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
HOLME
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN HOLME WOODS.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN HOLME WOODS.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
Lorristons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
engage in
From this reading Then, in sober earnest, he had to take up the duties of life and make the best of them.
marredadjectiveUS /mɑːrd/
blemished by injury or rough wear
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
phasenounUS /feɪz/
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
Ronald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
term of address for a man
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading Then, in sober earnest, he had to take up the duties of life and make the best of them.
in the near future
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
carry out
From this reading Then, in sober earnest, he had to take up the duties of life and make the best of them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, in sober earnest, he had to take up the duties of life and make the best of them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
trampleverbUS /ˈtræmpəl/
tread or stomp heavily or roughly
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then, in sober earnest, he had to take up the duties of life and make the best of them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading People did not quite know what the difference was about; but a quiet understanding soon came about that the Lorristons and the Aldens should never be invited together.
at the time that
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading So during all the wedding festivities with which the whole country rang the Lorristons were away; there was not even the civility of a letter exchanged between them.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading For Sir Ronald the second phase of his life began when, as the husband of another woman, it was more than ever his duty to trample under foot the passion that marred his life.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading IN HOLME WOODS.
