adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was certainly a dull little dinner-party.
acquaintedadjectiveUS /əˈkweɪntɪd/
having fair knowledge of
From this reading We were all intimate with our host, but were only slightly acquainted with each other.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading We tried all sorts of subjects, but they dropped one after the other.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 We were all intimate with our host, but were only slightly acquainted with each other.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
assistedadjectiveUS /əˈsɪstɪd/
having help; often used as a combining form
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
bachelornounUS /ˈbætʃələr/
a man who has never been married
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
brightenverbUS /ˈbraɪtən/
make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We were all intimate with our host, but were only slightly acquainted with each other.
certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading It was certainly a dull little dinner-party.
commonadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmən/
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/
a female human offspring
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
dinner-party
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was certainly a dull little dinner-party.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
droppedverbUS /drɑːpt/
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading We tried all sorts of subjects, but they dropped one after the other.
dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading It was certainly a dull little dinner-party.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading We were all intimate with our host, but were only slightly acquainted with each other.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
EvenounUS /iːv/
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
fiftynounUS /ˈfɪfti/
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
fournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
guestsnounUS /ɡests/
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
hostnounUS /hoʊst/
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading We were all intimate with our host, but were only slightly acquainted with each other.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
intimateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntəmət/
marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
From this reading We were all intimate with our host, but were only slightly acquainted with each other.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was certainly a dull little dinner-party.
ladiesnounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was certainly a dull little dinner-party.
masternounUS /ˈmæstər/
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
OfprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We tried all sorts of subjects, but they dropped one after the other.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading We were all intimate with our host, but were only slightly acquainted with each other.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading We were all intimate with our host, but were only slightly acquainted with each other.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We were all intimate with our host, but were only slightly acquainted with each other.
parlor-maids
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
PerhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
scenenounUS /siːn/
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
slightlyadverbUS /ˈslaɪtli/
to a small degree or extent
From this reading We were all intimate with our host, but were only slightly acquainted with each other.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
sortsnounUS /sɔːrts/
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading We tried all sorts of subjects, but they dropped one after the other.
subjectsnounUS /ˈsʌbdʒɪkts/
plural of “subject” — the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We tried all sorts of subjects, but they dropped one after the other.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading We tried all sorts of subjects, but they dropped one after the other.
twentynounUS /ˈtwenti/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was certainly a dull little dinner-party.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Perhaps we should have got on better if there had been some ladies among us; but the master of the house was a bachelor, and, except the parlor-maids who assisted in waiting on us at dinner, no daughter of Eve was present to brighten the dreary scene.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading We were all intimate with our host, but were only slightly acquainted with each other.
youthsnounUS /juːðz/
plural of “youth” — a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Of the four guests, two of us were men between fifty and sixty, and two of us were youths between eighteen and twenty, and we had no subjects in common.
