used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
adventurousadjectiveUS /ædˈventʃərəs/
willing to undertake or seeking out new and daring enterprises
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
architecturenounUS /ˈɑːrkətektʃər/
an architectural product or work
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Calamity recognised some of them immediately as people he had known in the old days.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Calamity entered with Lady Betty, these people gathered about him with words of welcome.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Life had dealt gently with them, and they had changed but little despite the intervening years.
CalamitynounUS /kəˈlæməti/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Calamity recognised some of them immediately as people he had known in the old days.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Life had dealt gently with them, and they had changed but little despite the intervening years.
chattingverbUS /ˈtʃætɪŋ/
inflected form of “chat” — talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Calamity recognised some of them immediately as people he had known in the old days.
dealtverbUS /delt/
inflected form of “deal” — act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading Life had dealt gently with them, and they had changed but little despite the intervening years.
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading Life had dealt gently with them, and they had changed but little despite the intervening years.
the act of consuming liquids
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading As Calamity entered with Lady Betty, these people gathered about him with words of welcome.
essentiallyadverbUS /eˈsenʃəli/
in essence; at bottom or by one's (or its) very nature
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
brought together in one place
From this reading As Calamity entered with Lady Betty, these people gathered about him with words of welcome.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Life had dealt gently with them, and they had changed but little despite the intervening years.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
GroupedadjectiveUS /ɡruːpt/
arranged into groups
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
habit-governed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Calamity recognised some of them immediately as people he had known in the old days.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Calamity recognised some of them immediately as people he had known in the old days.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As Calamity entered with Lady Betty, these people gathered about him with words of welcome.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Calamity recognised some of them immediately as people he had known in the old days.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Calamity recognised some of them immediately as people he had known in the old days.
interveningadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈviːnɪŋ/
occurring or falling between events or points in time
From this reading Life had dealt gently with them, and they had changed but little despite the intervening years.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Calamity recognised some of them immediately as people he had known in the old days.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading As Calamity entered with Lady Betty, these people gathered about him with words of welcome.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Life had dealt gently with them, and they had changed but little despite the intervening years.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Life had dealt gently with them, and they had changed but little despite the intervening years.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
NOBLESSEnounUS /noʊˈbles/
the state of being of noble birth
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
OBLIGEverbUS /əˈblaɪdʒ/
force somebody to do something
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Calamity recognised some of them immediately as people he had known in the old days.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
in other respects or ways
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
recognisedadjectiveUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/
provided with a secure reputation
From this reading Calamity recognised some of them immediately as people he had known in the old days.
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
Identical; not different.
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
shelteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃeltərd/
protected from danger or bad weather
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
sleekadjectiveUS /sliːk/
well-groomed and neatly tailored; especially too well-groomed
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Calamity recognised some of them immediately as people he had known in the old days.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Calamity recognised some of them immediately as people he had known in the old days.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading As Calamity entered with Lady Betty, these people gathered about him with words of welcome.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Life had dealt gently with them, and they had changed but little despite the intervening years.
TudornounUS /ˈtuːdər/
an English dynasty descended from Henry Tudor; Tudor monarchs ruled from Henry VII to Elizabeth I (from 1485 to 1603)
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
uneventfuladjectiveUS /ˌʌniˈventfəl/
marked by no noteworthy or significant events
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
vitalitynounUS /vaɪˈtæləti/
an energetic style
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
wainscotingnoun
a wainscoted wall (or wainscoted walls collectively)
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
accept gladly
From this reading As Calamity entered with Lady Betty, these people gathered about him with words of welcome.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "NOBLESSE OBLIGE" Grouped about the hall--a splendid example of Tudor architecture with its oak wainscoting and great, open fireplace--were several people chatting and drinking tea.
the words that are spoken
From this reading As Calamity entered with Lady Betty, these people gathered about him with words of welcome.
a late time of life
From this reading Life had dealt gently with them, and they had changed but little despite the intervening years.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading They had lost the rude vitality and adventurous spirit of youth, and had become sleek and soft and habit-governed; but otherwise they were essentially the same, living the same clean, sheltered, uneventful lives.
