used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
comersnounUS /ˈkʌmərz/
plural of “comer” — someone with a promising future
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
Desborough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
eligibleadjectiveUS /ˈelədʒəbəl/
qualified for or allowed or worthy of being chosen
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
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 Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE OLD STORY.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
PercynounUS /ˈpɜːrsi/
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
polkanounUS /ˈpoʊlkɑː/
music performed for dancing the polka
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
in the near future
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
show unwillingness towards
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
in the near future
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading THE OLD STORY.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I never enjoyed myself in my life as much as I did at that ball.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OLD STORY.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Lady Desborough introduced a good many of the first comers to me, and Percy brought up more.
precisely as stated
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
waltznounUS /wɔːlts/
an assured victory (especially in an election)
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
which person or people
From this reading At some times I should have been sorry for this, as one does not like to be obliged to refuse any very eligible looking man who may be introduced to one.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He had engaged me for the first waltz, and he presently asked me for the first polka after supper; and my card was soon quite full for the whole evening.
