used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A REMARKABLE HOUSEHOLD Everybody in Cedarville knew and respected General Haines.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A REMARKABLE HOUSEHOLD Everybody in Cedarville knew and respected General Haines.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
babenounUS /beɪb/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
beardedadjectiveUS /ˈbɪrdəd/
having hair on the cheeks and chin
From this reading His face was bearded and stern; his voice terrible.
Cedarville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A REMARKABLE HOUSEHOLD Everybody in Cedarville knew and respected General Haines.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading The General was commonly considered a "character."
commonlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmənli/
under normal conditions
From this reading The General was commonly considered a "character."
carefully weighed
From this reading The General was commonly considered a "character."
cowardicenounUS /ˈkaʊərdəs/
the trait of lacking courage
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
deportmentnounUS /dəˈpɔːrtmənt/
(behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
dignifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪɡnəfaɪd/
having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
an opposing military force
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
every person
From this reading A REMARKABLE HOUSEHOLD Everybody in Cedarville knew and respected General Haines.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His face was bearded and stern; his voice terrible.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading A REMARKABLE HOUSEHOLD Everybody in Cedarville knew and respected General Haines.
generationnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃən/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
generationsnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “generation” — all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
Haines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A REMARKABLE HOUSEHOLD Everybody in Cedarville knew and respected General Haines.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
a social unit living together
From this reading A REMARKABLE HOUSEHOLD Everybody in Cedarville knew and respected General Haines.
impracticableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpræktɪkəbəl/
not capable of being carried out or put into practice
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A REMARKABLE HOUSEHOLD Everybody in Cedarville knew and respected General Haines.
irascibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈræsɪbəl/
quickly aroused to anger
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading A REMARKABLE HOUSEHOLD Everybody in Cedarville knew and respected General Haines.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
mansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
martinetnoun
someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
held or filled or in use
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
unusual or striking
From this reading A REMARKABLE HOUSEHOLD Everybody in Cedarville knew and respected General Haines.
respectedadjectiveUS /rɪˈspektɪd/
receiving deferential regard
From this reading A REMARKABLE HOUSEHOLD Everybody in Cedarville knew and respected General Haines.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading His face was bearded and stern; his voice terrible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
timorousadjectiveUS /ˈtɪmərəs/
timid by nature or revealing timidity
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
untruthfulnessnoun
the quality of being untruthful
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading His face was bearded and stern; his voice terrible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The General was commonly considered a "character."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His ancestors for four generations had lived and died in the fine old mansion which he now occupied.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He was dignified in appearance and irascible in temper; a perfect martinet on the subject of deportment in the rising generation; a stern enemy to cowardice and untruthfulness, while in many other matters he was as impracticable as a babe and as timorous as an old lady.
