used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
accessibleadjectiveUS /ækˈsesəbəl/
capable of being reached
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
arrangeverbUS /ərˈeɪndʒ/
put into a proper or systematic order
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
being joined in close association
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
besetverbUS /bɪˈset/
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
blissfuladjectiveUS /ˈblɪsfəl/
completely happy and contented
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
CatherinenounUS /ˈkæθərən/
first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536)
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
desirousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪrəs/
having or expressing desire for something
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
dispellingverbUS /dɪˈspelɪŋ/
inflected form of “dispel” — force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
engagementsnounUS /enˈɡeɪdʒmənts/
plural of “engagement” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
entangledadjectiveUS /enˈtæŋɡəld/
deeply involved especially in something complicated
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
Fersen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
fettersnounUS /ˈfetərz/
plural of “fetter” — a shackle for the ankles or feet
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Still, she had pledged herself to give me a few hours to myself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
FridaynounUS /ˈfraɪdi/
the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Still, she had pledged herself to give me a few hours to myself.
GOSSIPnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Still, she had pledged herself to give me a few hours to myself.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Still, she had pledged herself to give me a few hours to myself.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
having much knowledge or education
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
meetingsnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋz/
plural of “meeting” — a formally arranged gathering
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Still, she had pledged herself to give me a few hours to myself.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
pledgedadjectiveUS /pledʒd/
bound by or as if by an oath
From this reading Still, she had pledged herself to give me a few hours to myself.
postponingverbUS /poʊstˈpoʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “postpone” — hold back to a later time
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Still, she had pledged herself to give me a few hours to myself.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
not in physical motion
From this reading Still, she had pledged herself to give me a few hours to myself.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For some time, Madame de Fersen, informed of her husband's approaching return, desirous of dispelling suspicion, had thought best to be at home at all times, and accessible to every one.
triflingnounUS /ˈtraɪflɪŋ/
the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading SOCIETY GOSSIP We were at the beginning of November, a Friday, ominous day for me.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Our private meetings had become so rare, so difficult to arrange, on account of the crowd which beset her, that we both attached great value to this day of happiness.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Catherine had been preparing for some time for this blissful meeting by postponing or putting an end to a thousand trifling engagements which are like invisible fetters in which a woman of society, however free she may appear, is daily entangled.
