used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
airyadjectiveUS /ˈeri/
open to or abounding in fresh air
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
artificialadjectiveUS /ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl/
contrived by art rather than nature
From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/
indicating a lack of maturity
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
competitionsnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈtɪʃənz/
plural of “competition” — a business relation in which two parties compete to gain customers
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
detractionnoun
a petty disparagement
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
DILIGENCEnounUS /ˈdɪlədʒəns/
conscientiousness in paying proper attention to a task; giving the degree of care required in a given situation
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
embitteredverbUS /emˈbɪtərd/
past form of “embitter” — cause to be bitter or resentful
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
emulationnounUS /ˌemjəˈleɪʃən/
ambition to equal or excel
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
plural of “family” — a social unit living together
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
set up or found
From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
Imlac
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
INQUIRYnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/
a search for knowledge
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
insinuatedverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɪnjuːeɪtɪd/
past form of “insinuate” — introduce or insert (oneself) in a subtle manner
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
levitynounUS /ˈlevɪti/
feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
liberalitynounUS /ˌlɪbɜːrˈælətiː/
an inclination to favor progress and individual freedom
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.
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 THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
merrimentnoun
a gay feeling
From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.
Nekayah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
not any; not one
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
many times at short intervals
From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
pettyadjectiveUS /ˈpetiː/
inferior in rank or status
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
pleasuresnounUS /ˈpleʒərz/
plural of “pleasure” — a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
prattleverbUS /ˈprætəl/
speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
preservedadjectiveUS /prəˈzɜːrvd/
prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
PURSUESverbUS /pərˈsuːz/
third-person singular of “pursue” — carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.
solicitudenounUS /səˈlɪsɪtuːd/
a feeling of excessive concern
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
carry out
From this reading They were always jealous of the beauty of each other; of a quality to which solicitude can add nothing, and from which detraction can take nothing away.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity, and prattle which had no meaning.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS The princess, in the meantime, insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
worthlessadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrθləs/
lacking in usefulness or value
From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
