used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was a social favourite.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He had considerable vivacity, which sometimes amounted to wit, and always passed for it.
amountedverbUS /əˈmaʊntɪd/
past form of “amount” — be tantamount or equivalent to
From this reading He had considerable vivacity, which sometimes amounted to wit, and always passed for it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had considerable vivacity, which sometimes amounted to wit, and always passed for it.
eagerly desirous
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
Cecil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
Chamberlayne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had considerable vivacity, which sometimes amounted to wit, and always passed for it.
crammingverbUS /ˈkræmɪŋ/
inflected form of “cram” — crowd or pack to capacity
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
cultivateverbUS /ˈkʌltəveɪt/
foster the growth of
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading He was a social favourite.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
HEROESnounUS /ˈhɪroʊz/
plural of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading ONE OF OUR HEROES.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
HoracenounUS /ˈhɔːrəs/
Roman lyric poet said to have influenced English poetry (65-8 BC)
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
marriageableadjective
of girls or women who are eligible to marry
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
MeredithnounUS /ˈmerɪdɪθ/
United States civil rights leader whose college registration caused riots in traditionally segregated Mississippi (born in 1933)
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ONE OF OUR HEROES.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
on one occasion
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ONE OF OUR HEROES.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading ONE OF OUR HEROES.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He had considerable vivacity, which sometimes amounted to wit, and always passed for it.
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
sketchingverbUS /ˈsketʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “sketch” — make a sketch of
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading He was a social favourite.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading He had considerable vivacity, which sometimes amounted to wit, and always passed for it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
two times
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
vivacitynoun
characterized by high spirits and animation
From this reading He had considerable vivacity, which sometimes amounted to wit, and always passed for it.
Vyner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had considerable vivacity, which sometimes amounted to wit, and always passed for it.
belonging to which person
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading He had considerable vivacity, which sometimes amounted to wit, and always passed for it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the following morning, Cecil Chamberlayne was busy over his edition of Horace, "cramming" for his interview with Meredith Vyner, whose acquaintance he was the more anxious to cultivate, now he knew that he had three marriageable daughters.
but in spite of that
From this reading Cecil has been introduced once or twice before, but I have not yet had an opportunity of sketching his portrait, so let me attempt it now.
