aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading That was an extraordinary dinner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
aristocracynounUS /ˌerəˈstɑːkrəsi/
a privileged class holding hereditary titles
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
assistingverbUS /əˈsɪstɪŋ/
-ing form of “assist” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Willie stood by and warned them to be careful.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Willie stood by and warned them to be careful.
cake-dish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ten Eyck wanted to scour the cake-dish or put raisins in something.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading Willie stood by and warned them to be careful.
dining-hallnoun
a large room at a college or university; used especially for dining
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading That was an extraordinary dinner.
dustingverbUS /ˈdʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “dust” — remove the dust from
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
Enslee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading That was an extraordinary dinner.
Eycknoun
Flemish painter who was a founder of the Flemish school of painting and who pioneered modern techniques of oil painting (1390-1441)
From this reading Ten Eyck wanted to scour the cake-dish or put raisins in something.
famishedadjectiveUS /ˈfæmɪʃt/
extremely hungry
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
hoveredverbUS /ˈhʌvərd/
past form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ten Eyck wanted to scour the cake-dish or put raisins in something.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Ten Eyck wanted to scour the cake-dish or put raisins in something.
palatialadjectiveUS /pəˈleɪʃəl/
relating to or being a palace
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
pleadingnounUS /ˈpliːdɪŋ/
(law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
privilegenounUS /ˈprɪvlədʒ/
a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Ten Eyck wanted to scour the cake-dish or put raisins in something.
raisinsnounUS /ˈreɪzənz/
plural of “raisin” — dried grape
From this reading Ten Eyck wanted to scour the cake-dish or put raisins in something.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
scourverbUS /ˈskaʊər/
examine minutely
From this reading Ten Eyck wanted to scour the cake-dish or put raisins in something.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Ten Eyck wanted to scour the cake-dish or put raisins in something.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Willie stood by and warned them to be careful.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Ten Eyck wanted to scour the cake-dish or put raisins in something.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was an extraordinary dinner.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Willie stood by and warned them to be careful.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ten Eyck wanted to scour the cake-dish or put raisins in something.
waifs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The famished aristocracy hovered about the kitchen porch like waifs, pleading for the privilege of assisting.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Ten Eyck wanted to scour the cake-dish or put raisins in something.
past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading Willie stood by and warned them to be careful.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was an extraordinary dinner.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
Willie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie stood by and warned them to be careful.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He and the rest were set to work dusting the palatial dining-hall and bringing forth the best Enslee plate.
