used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He is now only a rural dean, and speaks the worst French I know, and speaks it wherever and whenever he can.
ambassadornounUS /æmˈbæsədər/
a diplomat of the highest rank; accredited as representative from one country to another
From this reading Perhaps that is why he has not become an ambassador.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Perhaps that is why he has not become an ambassador.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
Balliol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was Carnegie, fresh from Balliol, redolent of the 'varsity.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Perhaps that is why he has not become an ambassador.
Billee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading He is now only a rural dean, and speaks the worst French I know, and speaks it wherever and whenever he can.
CarnegienounUS /ˈkɑːrnəɡi/
United States educator famous for writing a book about how to win friends and influence people (1888-1955)
From this reading Then there was Carnegie, fresh from Balliol, redolent of the 'varsity.
deannounUS /diːn/
an administrator in charge of a division of a university or college
From this reading He is now only a rural dean, and speaks the worst French I know, and speaks it wherever and whenever he can.
diplomaticadjectiveUS /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk/
relating to or characteristic of diplomacy
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading Then there was Carnegie, fresh from Balliol, redolent of the 'varsity.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then there was Carnegie, fresh from Balliol, redolent of the 'varsity.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps that is why he has not become an ambassador.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It serves him right, I think.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He is now only a rural dean, and speaks the worst French I know, and speaks it wherever and whenever he can.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He is now only a rural dean, and speaks the worst French I know, and speaks it wherever and whenever he can.
LairdnounUS /lerd/
a landowner
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Perhaps that is why he has not become an ambassador.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He is now only a rural dean, and speaks the worst French I know, and speaks it wherever and whenever he can.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then there was Carnegie, fresh from Balliol, redolent of the 'varsity.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
and nothing more
From this reading He is now only a rural dean, and speaks the worst French I know, and speaks it wherever and whenever he can.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps that is why he has not become an ambassador.
redolentadjectiveUS /ˈredələnt/
serving to bring to mind
From this reading Then there was Carnegie, fresh from Balliol, redolent of the 'varsity.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
precisely, exactly
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
ruraladjectiveUS /ˈrʊrəl/
living in or characteristic of farming or country life
From this reading He is now only a rural dean, and speaks the worst French I know, and speaks it wherever and whenever he can.
servesnounUS /sɜːrvz/
plural of “serve” — (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
From this reading It serves him right, I think.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
third-person singular of “speak” — express in speech
From this reading He is now only a rural dean, and speaks the worst French I know, and speaks it wherever and whenever he can.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
TaffynounUS /ˈtæfi/
chewy candy of sugar or syrup boiled until thick and pulled until glossy
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Perhaps that is why he has not become an ambassador.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then there was Carnegie, fresh from Balliol, redolent of the 'varsity.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then there was Carnegie, fresh from Balliol, redolent of the 'varsity.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Then there was Carnegie, fresh from Balliol, redolent of the 'varsity.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading It serves him right, I think.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
varsitynounUS /ˈvɑːrsɪti/
a British abbreviation of “university”; usually refers to Oxford University or Cambridge University
From this reading Then there was Carnegie, fresh from Balliol, redolent of the 'varsity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then there was Carnegie, fresh from Balliol, redolent of the 'varsity.
at any time that; every time that
From this reading He is now only a rural dean, and speaks the worst French I know, and speaks it wherever and whenever he can.
in or to any place at all
From this reading He is now only a rural dean, and speaks the worst French I know, and speaks it wherever and whenever he can.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Perhaps that is why he has not become an ambassador.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He intended himself then for the diplomatic service, and came to Paris to learn French as it is spoke; and spent most of his time with his fashionable English friends on the right side of the river, and the rest with Taffy, the Laird, and Little Billee on the left.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading He is now only a rural dean, and speaks the worst French I know, and speaks it wherever and whenever he can.
