used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A woman’s gowns are always an object of attention among the sterner sex.
accusednounUS /əˈkjuːzd/
a defendant in a criminal proceeding
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
admiredadjectiveUS /ədˈmaɪərd/
regarded with admiration
From this reading Elderly men may have admired me,--that I do not deny,--but assuredly that has been through no fault of my own.
how long something has existed
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading A woman’s gowns are always an object of attention among the sterner sex.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading A woman’s gowns are always an object of attention among the sterner sex.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A woman’s gowns are always an object of attention among the sterner sex.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A woman’s gowns are always an object of attention among the sterner sex.
assuredlyadverbUS /əˈʃʊrədli/
without a doubt
From this reading Elderly men may have admired me,--that I do not deny,--but assuredly that has been through no fault of my own.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading A woman’s gowns are always an object of attention among the sterner sex.
attractverbUS /əˈtrækt/
direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Elderly men may have admired me,--that I do not deny,--but assuredly that has been through no fault of my own.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
CONCERNSnounUS /kənˈsɜːrnz/
plural of “concern” — something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
declare untrue; contradict
From this reading Elderly men may have admired me,--that I do not deny,--but assuredly that has been through no fault of my own.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Elderly men may have admired me,--that I do not deny,--but assuredly that has been through no fault of my own.
ElderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading Elderly men may have admired me,--that I do not deny,--but assuredly that has been through no fault of my own.
endeavoredverbUS /ɪnˈdevərd/
past form of “endeavor” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
expensenounUS /ɪkˈspens/
amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Elderly men may have admired me,--that I do not deny,--but assuredly that has been through no fault of my own.
flirtingnounUS /ˈflɜːrtɪŋ/
playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
frivolities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
gownsnounUS /ɡaʊnz/
plural of “gown” — a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading A woman’s gowns are always an object of attention among the sterner sex.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
harmlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmləs/
not causing or capable of causing harm
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Elderly men may have admired me,--that I do not deny,--but assuredly that has been through no fault of my own.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
hilariousadjectiveUS /hɪˈleriəs/
marked by or causing boisterous merriment or convulsive laughter
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
Keppel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
MAINLYadverbUS /ˈmeɪnli/
for the most part
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
maturer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
the force of workers available
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
a form of address for a man
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
not any; not one
From this reading Elderly men may have admired me,--that I do not deny,--but assuredly that has been through no fault of my own.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Elderly men may have admired me,--that I do not deny,--but assuredly that has been through no fault of my own.
being perceived or observed
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading A woman’s gowns are always an object of attention among the sterner sex.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
OWLnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
activities associated with sexual intercourse
From this reading A woman’s gowns are always an object of attention among the sterner sex.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
sterneradjectiveUS /ˈstɜːrnər/
comparative of “stern” — of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading A woman’s gowns are always an object of attention among the sterner sex.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Elderly men may have admired me,--that I do not deny,--but assuredly that has been through no fault of my own.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
tête-à-tête
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
Ulrica
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading MAINLY CONCERNS THE OWL Ulrica was that night wildly hilarious at my expense.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had noticed me walking tête-à-tête with old Mr. Keppel, and accused me of flirting with him.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A woman’s gowns are always an object of attention among the sterner sex.
a late time of life
From this reading Now, I may be given to harmless frivolities with men of my own age, but I certainly have never endeavored to attract those of maturer years.
