Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

the department in charge of the navy (as in Great Britain)

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

a person who meddles in the affairs of others

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

full of trivial conversation

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

greatly pleasing or entertaining

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

comical in an odd or whimsical manner

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

a title of respect for a member of the English gentry ranking just below a knight; placed after the name

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

the state or fact of existing

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

having unexpected good fortune

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

comparative of “gentle” — soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

light informal conversation for social occasions

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

a person given to gossiping and divulging personal information about others

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He is the king of tattlers as Shakespeare is the king of poets.

superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

United States publisher who founded a printing shop that became an important book publisher (1823-1895)

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

witty language used to convey insults or scorn

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading He is the king of tattlers as Shakespeare is the king of poets.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

of grammatical gender

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

the force of workers available

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

not any; not one

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

the act of making and recording a measurement

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

a petty misdeed

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

English diarist whose diary contained detailed descriptions of 17th century disasters in England (1633-1703)

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

plural of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading He is the king of tattlers as Shakespeare is the king of poets.

past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

plural of “reign” — a period during which something or somebody is dominant or powerful

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

(Old Testament) Hebrew prophet and judge who anointed Saul as king

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

a person who is head of an administrative department of government

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

activities associated with sexual intercourse

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

From this reading He is the king of tattlers as Shakespeare is the king of poets.

estrangement from god

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

express in speech

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He is the king of tattlers as Shakespeare is the king of poets.

an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

a subdivision of a particular kind of thing

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

not possible to deny

From this reading So far as my observation goes, men are as much given to small talk as women, and it is undeniable that we have produced the highest type of gossiper extant.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

in or at the place that

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?

in the company of; together with

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading If it came to a matter of pure gossip, I would back Our Club against the Sorosis or any women’s club in existence.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading Boston And New York Houghton Mifflin Company We are accustomed to speak with a certain light irony of the tendency which women have to gossip, as if the sin itself, if it is a sin, were of the gentler sex, and could by no chance be a masculine peccadillo.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Where will you find, in or out of literature, such another droll, delightful, chatty busybody as Samuel Pepys, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty in the reigns of those fortunate gentlemen Charles II. and James II. of England?