adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
allotmentnounUS /əˈlɑːtmənt/
a share set aside for a specific purpose
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
Beaurepas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
boarding-houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It hardly made the matter easier that the old Frenchman came from Lausanne.
commonlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmənli/
under normal conditions
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
d'agréments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lausanne, as he said, “_manquait d’agréments_.”
easieradjectiveUS /ˈiːziər/
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It hardly made the matter easier that the old Frenchman came from Lausanne.
economicaladjectiveUS /ˌekəˈnɑːmɪkəl/
using the minimum of time or resources necessary for effectiveness
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
estimableadjectiveUS /ˈestəməbəl/
deserving of respect or high regard
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
familiaradjectiveUS /fəˈmɪljər/
well known or easily recognized
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
formnounUS /fɔːrm/
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
FrenchmannounUS /ˈfrentʃmæn/
a person of French nationality
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It hardly made the matter easier that the old Frenchman came from Lausanne.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
happensverbUS /ˈhæpənz/
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
hardlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdli/
only a very short time before
From this reading It hardly made the matter easier that the old Frenchman came from Lausanne.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
inadequateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnædəkwət/
lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It hardly made the matter easier that the old Frenchman came from Lausanne.
knowledgenounUS /ˈnɑːlədʒ/
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
LausannenounUS /ˌlɔːˈsæn/
a city in western Switzerland; cultural and commercial center
From this reading It hardly made the matter easier that the old Frenchman came from Lausanne.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It hardly made the matter easier that the old Frenchman came from Lausanne.
maidsnounUS /meɪdz/
plural of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
maintainverbUS /meɪnˈteɪn/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
manquait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lausanne, as he said, “_manquait d’agréments_.”
matternounUS /ˈmætər/
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It hardly made the matter easier that the old Frenchman came from Lausanne.
monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
nativeadjectiveUS /ˈneɪtɪv/
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
PensionnounUS /ˈpenʃən/
a regular payment to a person that is intended to allow them to subsist without working
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
petticoatsnounUS /ˈpetikoʊts/
plural of “petticoat” — undergarment worn under a skirt
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
pronouncedadjectiveUS /prəˈnaʊnst/
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
resourcesnounUS /ˈriːsɔːrsɪz/
plural of “resource” — available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
rustleverbUS /ˈrʌsəl/
make a dry crackling sound
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Lausanne, as he said, “_manquait d’agréments_.”
sexesnounUS /ˈseksəz/
plural of “sex” — activities associated with sexual intercourse
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
sixnounUS /sɪks/
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
spentadjectiveUS /spent/
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
tastedverbUS /ˈteɪstɪd/
past form of “taste” — have flavor; taste of something
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It hardly made the matter easier that the old Frenchman came from Lausanne.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
townnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
treenounUS /triː/
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As commonly happens in boarding-houses, the rustle of petticoats was, at the Pension Beaurepas, the most familiar form of the human tread.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading He was a native of that estimable town, but he had once spent six months in Paris, he had tasted of the tree of knowledge; he had got beyond Lausanne, whose resources he pronounced inadequate.
widowsnounUS /ˈwɪdoʊz/
plural of “widow” — a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading There was the usual allotment of economical widows and old maids, and to maintain the balance of the sexes there were only an old Frenchman and a young American.
