used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading ARTHUR GETS ON IN THE WORLD.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
comedynounUS /ˈkɑːmədi/
light and humorous drama with a happy ending
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/
past form of “consist” — originate
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
detectverbUS /dɪˈtekt/
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
one or the other of two
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
fourteennounUS /ˈfɔːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
From this reading ARTHUR GETS ON IN THE WORLD.
Gower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
the quality of being humane
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ARTHUR GETS ON IN THE WORLD.
ingredientsnounUS /ˌɪnˈɡriːdiənts/
plural of “ingredient” — a component of a mixture or compound
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
observernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ARTHUR GETS ON IN THE WORLD.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
participate in games or sport
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
rôle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
skilfuladjective
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
soubrettenoun
a pert or flirtatious young girl
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
spectacularadjectiveUS /spekˈtækjələr/
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ARTHUR GETS ON IN THE WORLD.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
except if; if not
From this reading There should never be more than six at a dinner, unless there are fourteen.
precisely as stated
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
villainnounUS /ˈvɪlən/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
virtuousadjectiveUS /ˈvɜːrtʃuːəs/
morally excellent
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
(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 Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With these ingredients, you may have a very pleasant dinner; but you must be a sufficiently skilful observer of humanity to detect the _rôle_.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading ARTHUR GETS ON IN THE WORLD.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Mrs. Gower was well aware of this; and hers consisted of a leading lady, a first young lady, a _soubrette_, a virtuous hero, a heavy villain, and a lover.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You can have your dinner either a parlor comedy or a spectacular play: but you must choose which you will have.
