used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
allowancenounUS /əˈlaʊəns/
an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period)
From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
brought into existence
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
dare-deviltry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
deepestadjectiveUS /ˈdiːpəst/
superlative of “deep” — relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
Delisle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
Delisleville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
deteriorateverbUS /dɪˈtɪriəreɪt/
become worse or disintegrate
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
lavishlyadverbUS /ˈlævɪʃli/
in a wasteful manner
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
not any; not one
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
patriciannounUS /pəˈtrɪʃən/
a person of refined upbringing and manners
From this reading The sentiments of Delisleville were purely patrician.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
proneadjectiveUS /proʊn/
having a tendency (to); often used in combination
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/
restricted to something
From this reading The sentiments of Delisleville were purely patrician.
on the contrary
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
sentimentsnounUS /ˈsentəmənts/
plural of “sentiment” — tender, romantic, or nostalgic feeling or emotion
From this reading The sentiments of Delisleville were purely patrician.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
spoonnounUS /spuːn/
a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle; used to stir or serve or take up food
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
TennesseenounUS /ˌtenəˈsiː/
a state in east central United States
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
theatricaladjectiveUS /θiˈætrɪkəl/
of or relating to the theater
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
Willoughby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
Willoughbys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
