used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
(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 Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading My aunt was always “poor Lavinia,” when mentioned by her family.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading My aunt was always “poor Lavinia,” when mentioned by her family.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the thought that a man who had intermarried with them, should have lowered his wife to the keeping of a boarding-house rankled.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading My aunt was always “poor Lavinia,” when mentioned by her family.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
disgraceverbUS /dɪsˈɡreɪs/
bring shame or dishonor upon
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
an act that fails
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
a social unit living together
From this reading My aunt was always “poor Lavinia,” when mentioned by her family.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But the thought that a man who had intermarried with them, should have lowered his wife to the keeping of a boarding-house rankled.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading My aunt was always “poor Lavinia,” when mentioned by her family.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
intermarriedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈmærid/
inflected form of “intermarry” — marry within the same ethnic, social, or family group
From this reading But the thought that a man who had intermarried with them, should have lowered his wife to the keeping of a boarding-house rankled.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
conformity or harmony
From this reading But the thought that a man who had intermarried with them, should have lowered his wife to the keeping of a boarding-house rankled.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
Lavinia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading But the thought that a man who had intermarried with them, should have lowered his wife to the keeping of a boarding-house rankled.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But the thought that a man who had intermarried with them, should have lowered his wife to the keeping of a boarding-house rankled.
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading My aunt was always “poor Lavinia,” when mentioned by her family.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My aunt was always “poor Lavinia,” when mentioned by her family.
needlessadjectiveUS /ˈniːdləs/
unnecessary and unwarranted
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
pretensenounUS /priˈtens/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
rankledverbUS /ˈræŋkəld/
past form of “rankle” — gnaw into; make resentful or angry
From this reading But the thought that a man who had intermarried with them, should have lowered his wife to the keeping of a boarding-house rankled.
mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
resentedverbUS /riˈzentɪd/
past form of “resent” — feel bitter or indignant about
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
express in words
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But the thought that a man who had intermarried with them, should have lowered his wife to the keeping of a boarding-house rankled.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
Spuffler's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But the thought that a man who had intermarried with them, should have lowered his wife to the keeping of a boarding-house rankled.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They resented it, but as a rule kept quiet about it “for the sake of poor Lavinia.”
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But the thought that a man who had intermarried with them, should have lowered his wife to the keeping of a boarding-house rankled.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
at the time that
From this reading My aunt was always “poor Lavinia,” when mentioned by her family.
which person or people
From this reading But the thought that a man who had intermarried with them, should have lowered his wife to the keeping of a boarding-house rankled.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading But the thought that a man who had intermarried with them, should have lowered his wife to the keeping of a boarding-house rankled.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Before strangers, needless to say, they helped him to keep up his pretense of importance and spoke of him with respect.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Deep down in their secret hearts all the Spuffler’s relations had felt that his permanent failure to get on in the world was a kind of disgrace to themselves.
