used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They may be surprised to learn that often the host carries a stick instead of a gun.
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading Indeed a “battue” (a favourite word amongst journalists) exacts as careful generalship as a battle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
anxietiesnounUS /æŋˈzaɪətiz/
plural of “anxiety” — (psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading They read of big “shoots” with no understanding of the anxieties involved.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Indeed a “battue” (a favourite word amongst journalists) exacts as careful generalship as a battle.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Indeed a “battue” (a favourite word amongst journalists) exacts as careful generalship as a battle.
battuenoun
a hunt in which beaters force the game to flee in the direction of the hunter
From this reading Indeed a “battue” (a favourite word amongst journalists) exacts as careful generalship as a battle.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They may be surprised to learn that often the host carries a stick instead of a gun.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They read of big “shoots” with no understanding of the anxieties involved.
billetsnounUS /ˈbɪləts/
plural of “billet” — a short personal letter
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading Indeed a “battue” (a favourite word amongst journalists) exacts as careful generalship as a battle.
carriesnounUS /ˈkæriz/
plural of “carry” — the act of carrying something
From this reading They may be surprised to learn that often the host carries a stick instead of a gun.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
exactsverbUS /ɪɡˈzækts/
third-person singular of “exact” — claim as due or just
From this reading Indeed a “battue” (a favourite word amongst journalists) exacts as careful generalship as a battle.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading Indeed a “battue” (a favourite word amongst journalists) exacts as careful generalship as a battle.
fox-hunting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
generalshipnounUS /ˈdʒenərəlʃɪp/
the leadership ability of a military general
From this reading Indeed a “battue” (a favourite word amongst journalists) exacts as careful generalship as a battle.
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading They may be surprised to learn that often the host carries a stick instead of a gun.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading They may be surprised to learn that often the host carries a stick instead of a gun.
houndsnounUS /haʊndz/
plural of “hound” — any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed a “battue” (a favourite word amongst journalists) exacts as careful generalship as a battle.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading They may be surprised to learn that often the host carries a stick instead of a gun.
involvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlvd/
connected by participation or association or use
From this reading They read of big “shoots” with no understanding of the anxieties involved.
journalistsnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrnələsts/
plural of “journalist” — a writer for newspapers and magazines
From this reading Indeed a “battue” (a favourite word amongst journalists) exacts as careful generalship as a battle.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading They may be surprised to learn that often the host carries a stick instead of a gun.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading They may be surprised to learn that often the host carries a stick instead of a gun.
not any; not one
From this reading They read of big “shoots” with no understanding of the anxieties involved.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
many times at short intervals
From this reading They may be surprised to learn that often the host carries a stick instead of a gun.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
pastimenounUS /ˈpæstaɪm/
a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly)
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
profoundlyadverbUS /proʊˈfaʊndli/
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading They read of big “shoots” with no understanding of the anxieties involved.
sailingnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/
the work of a sailor
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
shootsnounUS /ʃuːts/
plural of “shoot” — a new branch
From this reading They read of big “shoots” with no understanding of the anxieties involved.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading They may be surprised to learn that often the host carries a stick instead of a gun.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading They may be surprised to learn that often the host carries a stick instead of a gun.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They read of big “shoots” with no understanding of the anxieties involved.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Many persons, profoundly ignorant of lives other than their own, believe that country gentlemen have easy billets.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They read of big “shoots” with no understanding of the anxieties involved.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They may be surprised to learn that often the host carries a stick instead of a gun.
trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
activity leading to skilled behavior
From this reading The same people imagine fox-hunting to be plain sailing over a grass country and the successful training of hounds—a pastime.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading They read of big “shoots” with no understanding of the anxieties involved.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They read of big “shoots” with no understanding of the anxieties involved.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Indeed a “battue” (a favourite word amongst journalists) exacts as careful generalship as a battle.
