adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
absencenounUS /ˈæbsəns/
the state of being absent
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading He was absent three years.
accessionnounUS /əkˈseʃən/
a process of increasing by addition (as to a collection or group)
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
aggressivenessnounUS /əˈɡresɪvnəs/
the quality of being bold and enterprising
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
alighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
assertingadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪŋ/
relating to the use of or having the nature of a declaration
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
beardnounUS /bɪrd/
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
BostonnounUS /ˈbɑːstən/
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
changesnounUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒəz/
plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
characternounUS /ˈkerɪktər/
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
civilizationnounUS /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
commentedverbUS /ˈkɑːmentəd/
past form of “comment” — make or write a comment on
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
communicativeadjectiveUS /kəˈmjuːnəkətɪv/
of or relating to communication
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
contenting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
criticallyadverbUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəli/
in a critical manner
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
customsnounUS /ˈkʌstəmz/
money collected under a tariff
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
deemedverbUS /diːmd/
past form of “deem” — keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
dustverbUS /dʌst/
remove the dust from
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
folliesnounUS /ˈfɑːliz/
a revue with elaborate costuming
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
frankadjectiveUS /fræŋk/
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
freelyadverbUS /ˈfriːli/
in a free manner
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
hairnounUS /her/
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was absent three years.
highadjectiveUS /haɪ/
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
hotadjectiveUS /hɑːt/
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
impressverbUS /ˌɪmˈpres/
have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
incidentaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnsɪˈdentəl/
(sometimes followed by “to”) minor or casual or subordinate in significance or nature or occurring as a chance concomitant or consequence
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
LateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
lessadverbUS /les/
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
mannersnounUS /ˈmænərz/
social deportment
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
midsummernounUS /ˈmɪdˈsʌmər/
June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
NewadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
powderedadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊdərd/
consisting of fine particles
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
recentadjectiveUS /ˈriːsənt/
new
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
regardingverbUS /rɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
reservedadjectiveUS /rɪˈzɜːrvd/
set aside for the use of a particular person or party
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
shynessnounUS /ˈʃaɪnəs/
a feeling of fear of embarrassment
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
socialadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊʃəl/
relating to human society and its members
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
spokenounUS /spoʊk/
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
stagenounUS /steɪdʒ/
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
statenounUS /steɪt/
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading He was absent three years.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
visitverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading For some days he was reserved regarding his recent visit, contenting himself with asserting, with more or less aggressiveness, that he had “always said he was going home, and now he had been there.”
volubilitynoun
the quality of being facile in speech and writing
From this reading There was a certain shyness about his greeting, quite different from his usual frank volubility, that did not, however, impress us as any accession of character.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was absent three years.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
Wingdam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At the close of a very hot day in midsummer, he alighted from the Wingdam stage, with hair and beard powdered with dust and age.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading He was absent three years.
YorknounUS /jɔːrk/
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading Later he grew more communicative, and spoke freely and critically of the manners and customs of New York and Boston, commented on the social changes in the years of his absence, and, I remember, was very hard upon what he deemed the follies incidental to a high state of civilization.
