used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
BoswellnounUS /ˈbɑːzwel/
Scottish author noted for his biography of Samuel Johnson (1740-1795)
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
Club-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Hyacinth Club-house looks upon Piccadilly and the Green Park.
complementnounUS /ˈkɑːmpləmənt/
a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
completenessnounUS /kəmˈpliːtnəs/
the state of being complete and entire; having everything that is needed
From this reading Something of the home principle of male and female is necessary for the completeness even of a club.
a state at a particular time
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
contingentnounUS /kənˈtɪndʒənt/
a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
Courtney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Julius Courtney.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
divisible by two
From this reading Something of the home principle of male and female is necessary for the completeness even of a club.
being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop
From this reading Something of the home principle of male and female is necessary for the completeness even of a club.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
freshestadjectiveUS /ˈfreʃəst/
superlative of “fresh” — recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The Hyacinth Club-house looks upon Piccadilly and the Green Park.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Something of the home principle of male and female is necessary for the completeness even of a club.
HyacinthnounUS /ˈhaɪəsɪnθ/
a red transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
indispensableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈspensəbəl/
not to be dispensed with; essential
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
Julius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Julius Courtney.
and nothing more
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
liveliestadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪvliːəst/
superlative of “lively” — full of life and energy
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The Hyacinth Club-house looks upon Piccadilly and the Green Park.
malenounUS /meɪl/
an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes
From this reading Something of the home principle of male and female is necessary for the completeness even of a club.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
membershipnounUS /ˈmembərʃɪp/
the body of members of an organization or group
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
absolutely essential
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading The Hyacinth Club-house looks upon Piccadilly and the Green Park.
passiveadjectiveUS /ˈpæsɪv/
lacking in energy or will
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
Piccadilly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Hyacinth Club-house looks upon Piccadilly and the Green Park.
a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading Something of the home principle of male and female is necessary for the completeness even of a club.
on the contrary
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
a particular branch of scientific knowledge
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
selectingverbUS /səˈlektɪŋ/
-ing form of “select” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something of the home principle of male and female is necessary for the completeness even of a club.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Hyacinth Club has the reputation of selecting its members from among the freshest and most active spirits in literature, science, and art.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The Hyacinth Club-house looks upon Piccadilly and the Green Park.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
which person or people
From this reading That is in a sense true, but activity in one or another of those fields is not a condition of membership; for, just as the listening Boswell was the necessary complement of the talking Johnson, so in the Hyacinth Club there is an indispensable contingent of passive members who find their liveliest satisfaction in hearing and looking on, rather than in speaking and doing.
