adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
acquaintancenounUS /əˈkweɪntəns/
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was _rather_ a breath of winter in the air when I left those Dorsetshire people.
altogetheradverbUS /ˌɔːltəˈɡeðər/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(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 I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
birdnounUS /bɜːrd/
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
bitnounUS /bɪt/
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
bovineadjectiveUS /ˈboʊvaɪn/
of or relating to or belonging to the genus Bos
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
breathnounUS /breθ/
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading There was _rather_ a breath of winter in the air when I left those Dorsetshire people.
buzzingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌzɪŋ/
noisy like the sound of a bee
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
cowsnounUS /kaʊz/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
deadlyadjectiveUS /ˈdedli/
causing or capable of causing death
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
Dorsetshire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was _rather_ a breath of winter in the air when I left those Dorsetshire people.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
experienceverbUS /ɪkˈspɪriəns/
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
fivenounUS /faɪv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
gadflynounUS /ˈɡædflaɪ/
a persistently annoying person
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
guestsnounUS /ɡests/
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
hitverbUS /hɪt/
cause to move by striking
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
holdsnounUS /hoʊldz/
plural of “hold” — the act of grasping
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
hostsnounUS /hoʊsts/
plural of “host” — a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
immenseadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmens/
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was _rather_ a breath of winter in the air when I left those Dorsetshire people.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
knowingadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊɪŋ/
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
leastadjectiveUS /liːst/
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
leaveverbUS /liːv/
go away from a place
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
leftnounUS /left/
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 There was _rather_ a breath of winter in the air when I left those Dorsetshire people.
lotnounUS /lɑːt/
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
missedadjectiveUS /mɪst/
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was _rather_ a breath of winter in the air when I left those Dorsetshire people.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
particularlyadverbUS /ˌpɑːrˈtɪkjələrli/
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
partridgesnounUS /ˈpɑːrtrɪdʒɪz/
plural of “partridge” — flesh of either quail or grouse
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading There was _rather_ a breath of winter in the air when I left those Dorsetshire people.
ragnounUS /ræɡ/
a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
ragging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading There was _rather_ a breath of winter in the air when I left those Dorsetshire people.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
samenessnounUS /ˈseɪmnəs/
the quality of being alike
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
seldomadverbUS /ˈseldəm/
not often
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
shootverbUS /ʃuːt/
hit with a missile from a weapon
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
smoking-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
sortnounUS /sɔːrt/
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
suggestedverbUS /səˈdʒestɪd/
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
superficialadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃəl/
concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/
express a supposition
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
teasingnounUS /ˈtiːzɪŋ/
the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You see, they had asked me down to shoot, and I'm not particularly immense at that sort of thing.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was _rather_ a breath of winter in the air when I left those Dorsetshire people.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading There was _rather_ a breath of winter in the air when I left those Dorsetshire people.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was _rather_ a breath of winter in the air when I left those Dorsetshire people.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading There was _rather_ a breath of winter in the air when I left those Dorsetshire people.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
yardsnounUS /jɑːrdz/
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading And they tried to rag me in the smoking-room about not being able to hit a bird at five yards, a sort of bovine ragging that suggested cows buzzing round a gadfly and thinking they were teasing it.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I suppose the same thing holds good with the hosts; they seldom have more than a superficial acquaintance with their guests, and so often just when they do get to know you a bit better, they leave off knowing you altogether.
you've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's such a deadly sameness about partridges; when you've missed one, you've missed the lot--at least, that's been my experience.
