adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
Adelbert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
advancementnounUS /ədˈvænsmənt/
encouragement of the progress or growth or acceptance of something
From this reading Fame did not bring the social advancement which the Babbitts deserved.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
AmongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the Union.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the Union.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
BabbittnounUS /ˈbæbɪt/
an alloy of tin with some copper and antimony; a lining for bearings that reduces friction
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
BabbittsnounUS /ˈbæbəts/
plural of “babbitt” — an alloy of tin with some copper and antimony; a lining for bearings that reduces friction
From this reading Fame did not bring the social advancement which the Babbitts deserved.
bankernounUS /ˈbæŋkər/
a financier who owns or is an executive in a bank
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
bringverbUS /brɪŋ/
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Fame did not bring the social advancement which the Babbitts deserved.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
carenounUS /ker/
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
CharlesnounUS /tʃɑːrlz/
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
class-dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
ClubnounUS /klʌb/
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the Union.
contractornounUS /ˈkɑːntræktər/
someone (a person or firm) who contracts to build things
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
CountrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the Union.
dancesnounUS /ˈdænsəz/
plural of “dance” — an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the Union.
decoratornounUS /ˈdekəreɪtər/
a person who specializes in interior decoration
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
deservedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrvd/
properly deserved
From this reading Fame did not bring the social advancement which the Babbitts deserved.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Fame did not bring the social advancement which the Babbitts deserved.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
disastrousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzæstrəs/
(of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin
From this reading I His march to greatness was not without disastrous stumbling.
DobsonnounUS /ˈdɑːbsən/
large brown aquatic larva of the dobsonfly; used as fishing bait
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
FamenounUS /feɪm/
the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
From this reading Fame did not bring the social advancement which the Babbitts deserved.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
fatadjectiveUS /fæt/
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
frettedadjectiveUS /ˈfretɪd/
having frets
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
furiousadjectiveUS /ˈfjʊriəs/
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
greatnessnounUS /ˈɡreɪtnəs/
the property possessed by something or someone of outstanding importance or eminence
From this reading I His march to greatness was not without disastrous stumbling.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
highrollers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
HimselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I His march to greatness was not without disastrous stumbling.
hootnounUS /huːt/
a loud raucous cry (as of an owl)
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I His march to greatness was not without disastrous stumbling.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
intimacynounUS /ˈɪntəməsi/
close or warm friendship
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
invitedverbUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪtəd/
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the Union.
IrvingnounUS /ˈɜːrvɪŋ/
United States writer remembered for his stories (1783-1859)
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
joinverbUS /dʒɔɪn/
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the Union.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
KrugernounUS /ˈkruːɡər/
Boer statesman (1825-1904)
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
leadersnounUS /ˈliːdərz/
the body of people who lead a group
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
marchverbUS /mɑːrtʃ/
march in a procession
From this reading I His march to greatness was not without disastrous stumbling.
MaxnounUS /mæks/
street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
McKelvey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
millionairenounUS /ˌmɪljəˈner/
a person whose material wealth is valued at more than a million dollars
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the Union.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I His march to greatness was not without disastrous stumbling.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
PresentverbUS /ˈprezənt/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
socialadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊʃəl/
relating to human society and its members
From this reading Fame did not bring the social advancement which the Babbitts deserved.
stumblingverbUS /ˈstʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading I His march to greatness was not without disastrous stumbling.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
TatenounUS /teɪt/
United States poet and critic (1899-1979)
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Fame did not bring the social advancement which the Babbitts deserved.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the Union.
ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I His march to greatness was not without disastrous stumbling.
Tonawanda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the Union.
tool-manufacturer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
UnionnounUS /ˈjuːnjən/
an organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer
From this reading They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the Union.
universitynounUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəti/
the body of faculty and students at a university
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I His march to greatness was not without disastrous stumbling.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the Union.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Fame did not bring the social advancement which the Babbitts deserved.
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He nervously awaited his university class-dinner and an evening of furious intimacy with such social leaders as Charles McKelvey the millionaire contractor, Max Kruger the banker, Irving Tate the tool-manufacturer, and Adelbert Dobson the fashionable interior decorator.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I His march to greatness was not without disastrous stumbling.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Himself, Babbitt fretted, he didn’t “care a fat hoot for all these highrollers, but the wife would kind of like to be Among Those Present.”
