used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
actualities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
BatesverbUS /beɪts/
third-person singular of “bate” — moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
cavernnounUS /ˈkæv.ərn/
A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
contemporanics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
decadenounUS /deˈkeɪd/
a period of 10 years
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
Eliza
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
embarrassverbUS /ɪmˈberəs/
cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
fednounUS /fed/
any federal law-enforcement officer
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
glorifyverbUS /ˈɡlɔːrəfaɪ/
praise, glorify, or honor
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
goodlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡʊdli/
large in amount or extent or degree
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
humdrumadjectiveUS /ˈhʌmdrʌm/
not challenging; dull and lacking excitement
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
lifetimenounUS /ˈlaɪftaɪm/
the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
luxurynounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəri/
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
MarshallnounUS /ˈmɑːrʃəl/
United States actor (1914-1998)
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
MarshallsnounUS /ˈmɑːrʃɔːlz/
plural of “marshall” — United States actor (1914-1998)
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
not any; not one
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
and nothing more
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
possibilitiesnounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiz/
plural of “possibility” — a future prospect or potential
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
splendornounUS /ˈsplen.dər/
Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur and brilliance.
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
streamsnounUS /striːmz/
plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
Susan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She learned how people received, how they set their tables and served them, how they built their houses and furnished them.
push forcefully
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Susan Bates gave the Marshalls a short, plain dinner; she had no desire to glorify herself or to embarrass her guests.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But Eliza Marshall learned more of contemporanics in that one evening than she had picked up in the previous decade.
in or at the place that
From this reading She learned not only the possibilities but the actualities of splendor and luxury in the town where she had led a retired and humdrum existence for nearly a lifetime.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading She now thrust her head forth from her dim old cavern, and fed her eyes on the flowers and fields and skies and goodly streams of the great world outside.
