used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
abstractverbUS /æbˈstrækt/
consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
matters of personal concern
From this reading Mrs. Ralston’s house-parties were usually satisfactory affairs.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
animatedadjectiveUS /ˈænəmeɪtɪd/
having life or vigor or spirit
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
ApollonounUS /əˈpɑːloʊ/
(Greek mythology) Greek god of light; god of prophecy and poetry and music and healing; son of Zeus and Leto; twin brother of Artemis
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
athletesnounUS /ˈæθliːts/
plural of “athlete” — a person trained to compete in sports
From this reading She liked to ornament her porches or her gardens with husky and handsome young college athletes.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading She liked to ornament her porches or her gardens with husky and handsome young college athletes.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
decorativeadjectiveUS /ˈdekrətɪv/
serving an esthetic rather than a useful purpose
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading She liked to ornament her porches or her gardens with husky and handsome young college athletes.
gatheringsnounUS /ˈɡæðərɪŋz/
plural of “gathering” — a group of persons together in one place
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading She liked to ornament her porches or her gardens with husky and handsome young college athletes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
house-parties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ralston’s house-parties were usually satisfactory affairs.
huskyadjectiveUS /ˈhʌski/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading She liked to ornament her porches or her gardens with husky and handsome young college athletes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
liberaladjectiveUS /ˈlɪbɜːrəl/
showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading She liked to ornament her porches or her gardens with husky and handsome young college athletes.
mansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
the force of workers available
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Ralston’s house-parties were usually satisfactory affairs.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She liked to ornament her porches or her gardens with husky and handsome young college athletes.
ornamentverbUS /ˈɔːrnəmənt/
make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.
From this reading She liked to ornament her porches or her gardens with husky and handsome young college athletes.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
platonicadjectiveUS /pləˈtɑːnɪk/
of or relating to or characteristic of Plato or his philosophy
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
porchesnounUS /ˈpɔːrtʃəz/
plural of “porch” — a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading She liked to ornament her porches or her gardens with husky and handsome young college athletes.
Praxitelesnoun
ancient Greek sculptor (circa 370-330 BC)
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
Ralston's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ralston’s house-parties were usually satisfactory affairs.
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading Mrs. Ralston’s house-parties were usually satisfactory affairs.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
sprinklingnounUS /ˈsprɪŋklɪŋ/
a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
strictlyadverbUS /ˈstrɪktli/
restricted to something
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
in or at that place or location
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At the big gatherings in her noble country mansion, there was always a liberal sprinkling of decorative and animated objects of art of this description.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She liked to ornament her porches or her gardens with husky and handsome young college athletes.
two-score
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
unimpeachableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪmˈpiːtʃəbəl/
beyond doubt or reproach
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
under normal conditions
From this reading Mrs. Ralston’s house-parties were usually satisfactory affairs.
varietynounUS /vərˈaɪəti/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
well-nighadverb
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mrs. Ralston’s house-parties were usually satisfactory affairs.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She liked to ornament her porches or her gardens with husky and handsome young college athletes.
a late time of life
From this reading Indeed, her taste in the abstract, for animated Praxiteles had, for well-nigh two-score of years, been unimpeachable.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She was fond of people, especially young people, and more especially of young men of the Apollo variety, though in a strictly proper, platonic and critical sense.
