1636
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
how long something has existed
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck had good reason to be proud of his ancestors.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Percy-Bartletts were dining with Gertrude Van Vleck and her father.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck had good reason to be proud of his ancestors.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
blanket-blessing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had possessed a combination of foresight and conservatism that had conferred on their posterity the blanket-blessing of vast wealth.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
cherishverbUS /ˈtʃerɪʃ/
be fond of; be attached to
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
combinationnounUS /ˌkɑːmbəˈneɪʃən/
a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
From this reading They had possessed a combination of foresight and conservatism that had conferred on their posterity the blanket-blessing of vast wealth.
conferredverbUS /kənˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “confer” — have a conference in order to talk something over
From this reading They had possessed a combination of foresight and conservatism that had conferred on their posterity the blanket-blessing of vast wealth.
conservatismnounUS /kənˈsɜːrvətɪzəm/
a political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical changes
From this reading They had possessed a combination of foresight and conservatism that had conferred on their posterity the blanket-blessing of vast wealth.
Cornelius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading The Percy-Bartletts were dining with Gertrude Van Vleck and her father.
a social unit living together
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The Percy-Bartletts were dining with Gertrude Van Vleck and her father.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
foresightnounUS /ˈfɔːrsaɪt/
providence by virtue of planning prudently for the future
From this reading They had possessed a combination of foresight and conservatism that had conferred on their posterity the blanket-blessing of vast wealth.
Gertrude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Percy-Bartletts were dining with Gertrude Van Vleck and her father.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck had good reason to be proud of his ancestors.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Percy-Bartletts were dining with Gertrude Van Vleck and her father.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
maintainingverbUS /meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “maintain” — cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
not any; not one
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They had possessed a combination of foresight and conservatism that had conferred on their posterity the blanket-blessing of vast wealth.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
Percy-Bartletts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Percy-Bartletts were dining with Gertrude Van Vleck and her father.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading They had possessed a combination of foresight and conservatism that had conferred on their posterity the blanket-blessing of vast wealth.
posteritynounUS /pɑːˈsterəti/
all of the offspring of a given progenitor
From this reading They had possessed a combination of foresight and conservatism that had conferred on their posterity the blanket-blessing of vast wealth.
prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck had good reason to be proud of his ancestors.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck had good reason to be proud of his ancestors.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
sinecurenoun
a benefice to which no spiritual or pastoral duties are attached
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Percy-Bartletts were dining with Gertrude Van Vleck and her father.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had possessed a combination of foresight and conservatism that had conferred on their posterity the blanket-blessing of vast wealth.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had possessed a combination of foresight and conservatism that had conferred on their posterity the blanket-blessing of vast wealth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
traditionsnounUS /trəˈdɪʃənz/
plural of “tradition” — an inherited pattern of thought or action
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
From this reading The Percy-Bartletts were dining with Gertrude Van Vleck and her father.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading They had possessed a combination of foresight and conservatism that had conferred on their posterity the blanket-blessing of vast wealth.
Vleck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Percy-Bartletts were dining with Gertrude Van Vleck and her father.
Vlecks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading They had possessed a combination of foresight and conservatism that had conferred on their posterity the blanket-blessing of vast wealth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Percy-Bartletts were dining with Gertrude Van Vleck and her father.
belonging to which person
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Percy-Bartletts were dining with Gertrude Van Vleck and her father.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading As the Van Vlecks had been prominent in the city since the year 1636, the number of these traditions that he had been called upon to cherish rendered his task no sinecure.
a late time of life
From this reading Cornelius Van Vleck was a man sixty years of age, whose life had been spent, for the most part, in maintaining the traditions of his family.
