used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had recently been received as a member,--an event deeply gratifying to him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
abreastadjectiveUS /əˈbrest/
being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
(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 He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
AmongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had recently been received as a member,--an event deeply gratifying to him.
armchairsnounUS /ˈɑːrmtʃerz/
plural of “armchair” — chair with a support on each side for arms
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had recently been received as a member,--an event deeply gratifying to him.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But success translated itself this way.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
clubsnounUS /klʌbz/
plural of “club” — a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading He had recently been received as a member,--an event deeply gratifying to him.
distinctionsnounUS /dɪˈstɪŋkʃənz/
plural of “distinction” — a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading He had recently been received as a member,--an event deeply gratifying to him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
gratifyingadjectiveUS /ˈɡrætəfaɪɪŋ/
pleasing to the mind or feeling
From this reading He had recently been received as a member,--an event deeply gratifying to him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had recently been received as a member,--an event deeply gratifying to him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had recently been received as a member,--an event deeply gratifying to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
hustlingverbUS /ˈhʌsəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “hustle” — cause to move furtively and hurriedly
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading But success translated itself this way.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading He had recently been received as a member,--an event deeply gratifying to him.
the force of workers available
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
MetropolisnounUS /məˈtrɑːpələs/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
an amount of time
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
processionnounUS /prəˈseʃən/
(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading He had recently been received as a member,--an event deeply gratifying to him.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading He had recently been received as a member,--an event deeply gratifying to him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading But success translated itself this way.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But success translated itself this way.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had recently been received as a member,--an event deeply gratifying to him.
translatedverbUS /trænzˈleɪtɪd/
past form of “translate” — restate (words) from one language into another language
From this reading But success translated itself this way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But success translated itself this way.
in or at the place that
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
which person or people
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
Wilbur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among the men who had been watching the procession from the comfortable armchairs of the Metropolis Club was John Wilbur.
a late time of life
From this reading In his “hustling years,” as he called the period before the opening of the new house, he had not thought much about clubs.
zealousadjectiveUS /ˈzeləs/
marked by active interest and enthusiasm
From this reading He had become much more zealous for all possible social distinctions than his wife, for she had always lived abreast of the society where she had been placed.
