aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The term wore on, and there was nothing talked of in Cambridge but examinations.
any thing at all
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
approachesnounUS /əˈproʊtʃəz/
plural of “approach” — ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation
From this reading The nearer the day approaches for the dreaded trial the more dreadful seems the finality of the approaching result.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading The nearer the day approaches for the dreaded trial the more dreadful seems the finality of the approaching result.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
ballsnounUS /bɔːlz/
plural of “ball” — round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
boat-races
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The term wore on, and there was nothing talked of in Cambridge but examinations.
CambridgenounUS /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/
a university in England
From this reading The term wore on, and there was nothing talked of in Cambridge but examinations.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
concertsnounUS /ˈkɑːnsərts/
plural of “concert” — a performance of music by players or singers not involving theatrical staging
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
cousinsnounUS /ˈkʌzənz/
plural of “cousin” — the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The nearer the day approaches for the dreaded trial the more dreadful seems the finality of the approaching result.
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The nearer the day approaches for the dreaded trial the more dreadful seems the finality of the approaching result.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The nearer the day approaches for the dreaded trial the more dreadful seems the finality of the approaching result.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
everybody's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
examinationsnounUS /ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “examination” — the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading The term wore on, and there was nothing talked of in Cambridge but examinations.
examsnounUS /ɪɡˈzæmz/
plural of “exam” — a set of questions or exercises evaluating skill or knowledge
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
finalitynounUS /faɪˈnæləti/
the quality of being final or definitely settled
From this reading The nearer the day approaches for the dreaded trial the more dreadful seems the finality of the approaching result.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The nearer the day approaches for the dreaded trial the more dreadful seems the finality of the approaching result.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE PICTURE-GALLERY.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
the force of workers available
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The nearer the day approaches for the dreaded trial the more dreadful seems the finality of the approaching result.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading The nearer the day approaches for the dreaded trial the more dreadful seems the finality of the approaching result.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The term wore on, and there was nothing talked of in Cambridge but examinations.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The term wore on, and there was nothing talked of in Cambridge but examinations.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The term wore on, and there was nothing talked of in Cambridge but examinations.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
PICTURE-GALLERY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE PICTURE-GALLERY.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The nearer the day approaches for the dreaded trial the more dreadful seems the finality of the approaching result.
secondaryadjectiveUS /ˈsekənderi/
being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The nearer the day approaches for the dreaded trial the more dreadful seems the finality of the approaching result.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading The term wore on, and there was nothing talked of in Cambridge but examinations.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading The term wore on, and there was nothing talked of in Cambridge but examinations.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE PICTURE-GALLERY.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The term wore on, and there was nothing talked of in Cambridge but examinations.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
the act of testing something
From this reading The nearer the day approaches for the dreaded trial the more dreadful seems the finality of the approaching result.
uppermostadjectiveUS /ˈʌpərmoʊst/
at or nearest to the top
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The term wore on, and there was nothing talked of in Cambridge but examinations.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were the boat-races, and the college balls, and the concerts, but exciting as these were to the sisters and cousins of the men, they were of secondary importance to the exams.
at the time that
From this reading How could one talk about anything else when it was the subject uppermost in everybody's mind?
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading The term wore on, and there was nothing talked of in Cambridge but examinations.
