used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
(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 A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
any thing at all
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
boosternounUS /ˈbuːstər/
a person who backs a politician or a team etc.
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
ChicagonounUS /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/
largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
CHICAGOANS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
disappointingadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ/
not up to expectations
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
enthusiasticadjectiveUS /ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪk/
having or showing great excitement and interest
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
at any time
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
glimpsesnounUS /ˈɡlɪmpsɪz/
plural of “glimpse” — a quick look
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
the act of departing
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
HappilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/
a woman host
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
and nothing more
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
immediately past
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
go away from a place
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
lobbynounUS /ˈlɑːbi/
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
representativenounUS /ˌreprəˈzentətɪv/
a person who represents others
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
only a very short time before
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
stayingverbUS /ˈsteɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
carry out
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
a special situation
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading You arrive at night and leave early in the morning and all you see is one street driving in, and another going out, and the lobby, dining-room and a bedroom or two at the hotel.
typicaladjectiveUS /ˈtɪpəkəl/
exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
except if; if not
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
unlimitedadjectiveUS /ənˈlɪmətɪd/
having no limits in range or scope
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
unsatisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌʌnsətɪˈsfæktəri/
not giving satisfaction
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Last evening at a dinner given for us, our hostess explained that she had asked the most typical Chicagoans she could think of, and that one of the most representative of them was to take me in to dinner.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Happily for us, we have been staying several days in Chicago, and, while we can scarcely be said to know the city well, we have had at least a few glimpses of her life and have met quite a few of her people.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “He is so enthusiastic, he is what some people would call a booster,” she whispered just before she introduced him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A FEW CHICAGOANS The disappointing and unsatisfactory thing about a motor trip is that unless you have unlimited time, which few people ever seem to have, you stop too short a while in each place to know anything at all about it.
