used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
artsnounUS /ɑːrts/
studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills)
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
aspectsnounUS /ˈæspekts/
plural of “aspect” — a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
capriciouslyadverbUS /kəˈprɪʃɪsli/
unpredictably
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
chinanounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
conferredverbUS /kənˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “confer” — have a conference in order to talk something over
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
culturenounUS /ˈkʌltʃər/
a particular society at a particular time and place
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
descendantsnounUS /dɪˈsendənts/
all of the offspring of a given progenitor
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
despisedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspaɪzd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
dispenseverbUS /dɪˈspens/
administer or bestow, as in small portions
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
exquisiteadjectiveUS /ˈekskwəzət/
intense or sharp
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading * * * * * Rose, you see, if she had not many friends, had very good ones.
GeorgiannounUS /ˈdʒɔːrdʒən/
a native or resident of the American state of Georgia
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
plural of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading * * * * * Rose, you see, if she had not many friends, had very good ones.
gracesnounUS /ˈɡreɪsɪz/
plural of “grace” — (Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
gratifyverbUS /ˈɡrætəfaɪ/
make happy or satisfied
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
hostilitynounUS /hɑːˈstɪləti/
a hostile (very unfriendly) disposition
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading * * * * * Rose, you see, if she had not many friends, had very good ones.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading * * * * * Rose, you see, if she had not many friends, had very good ones.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
panelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
providentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːvɪdənt/
providing carefully for the future
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
quieteradjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪətər/
comparative of “quiet” — characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
recessesnounUS /ˈriːsesəz/
plural of “recess” — a state of abeyance or suspended business
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading * * * * * Rose, you see, if she had not many friends, had very good ones.
sectnounUS /sekt/
a subdivision of a larger religious group
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading * * * * * Rose, you see, if she had not many friends, had very good ones.
sereneadjectiveUS /sərˈiːn/
not agitated; without losing self-possession
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading * * * * * Rose, you see, if she had not many friends, had very good ones.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
Theodore's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
precisely as stated
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
vowedverbUS /vaʊd/
past form of “vow” — make a vow; promise
From this reading The gods dispense their gifts capriciously, and upon these descendants of a sect vowed to hostility to the arts and graces they had conferred the most exquisite taste.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Not that their lot was to be despised, for they had turned Theodore’s house into a very beautiful serene place.
a Caucasian
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading A series of provident ancestors had put them into a position to gratify most of their wishes, and their home kept pace with modern culture in all its quieter aspects.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a Georgian house, panelled in white, with many recesses; and the three sisters had filled these with blue china.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading * * * * * Rose, you see, if she had not many friends, had very good ones.
