commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
Alison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
ante-rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
authorsnounUS /ˈɔːθərz/
plural of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
baptismnounUS /ˈbæptɪzəm/
a Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
benefactornounUS /ˈbenəfæktər/
a person who helps people or institutions (especially with financial help)
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
Blatchley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
boastverbUS /boʊst/
show off
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
book-production
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
downrightadverbUS /ˈdaʊnraɪt/
thoroughgoing
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
entertainverbUS /ˌentərˈteɪn/
provide entertainment for
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
fine-panelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
Geoffrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The modern plan was not to keep them waiting.
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
methodsnounUS /ˈmeθədz/
plural of “method” — a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
modernitynounUS /mɑːˈdɜːrnəti/
the quality of being current or of the present
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
by chance
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading The modern plan was not to keep them waiting.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
pompnounUS /pɑːmp/
cheap or pretentious or vain display
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
publishernounUS /ˈpʌblɪʃər/
a firm in the publishing business
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The modern plan was not to keep them waiting.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
thoroughnessnounUS /ˈθɜːroʊnəs/
conscientiousness in performing all aspects of a task
From this reading It may therefore be perhaps set down to his modernity of business spirit that he prepared to entertain his benefactor, Geoffrey Alison, with so much thoroughness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
traditionsnounUS /trəˈdɪʃənz/
plural of “tradition” — an inherited pattern of thought or action
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
upholdverbUS /əpˈhoʊld/
keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
upholsteredverbUS /əˈpoʊlstərd/
past form of “upholster” — provide furniture with padding, springs, webbing, and covers
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The modern plan was not to keep them waiting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
in or at the place that
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading PLEASURE Thomas Blatchley (which downright English names his mother and father did not give him in his baptism) was accustomed to boast that he was not an old-fashioned publisher.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading He wished of course to uphold the fine traditions of literature and so forth, but he believed in modern methods.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He did not see that book-production had any essential connection with fine-panelled ante-rooms where authors waited in upholstered pomp.
