used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
(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 But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
any thing at all
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The ball was at its height.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading The ball was at its height.
ball-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
blasé
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
chastenedverbUS /ˈtʃeɪsənd/
past form of “chasten” — censure severely
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
clothing in general
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
coldestadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊldəst/
superlative of “cold” — having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
curvingadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrvɪŋ/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
dashesnounUS /ˈdæʃɪz/
plural of “dash” — distinctive and stylish elegance
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
decorationsnounUS /ˌdekərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “decoration” — something used to beautify
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
dressesnounUS /ˈdresəz/
plural of “dress” — a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
dullyadverb
without liveliness
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
effulgencenoun
the quality of being bright and sending out rays of light
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
elegantadjectiveUS /ˈeləɡənt/
refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
enjoymentnounUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪmənt/
the pleasure felt when having a good time
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
divisible by two
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
opinion or judgment
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
fansnounUS /fænz/
plural of “fan” — a device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
ghost-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
girlishadjectiveUS /ˈɡɜːrlɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young girl
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading The ball was at its height.
Ida's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The ball was at its height.
plural of “jewel” — a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
kaleidoscopenounUS /kəˈlaɪdəskoʊp/
a complex pattern of constantly changing colors and shapes
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
love-lit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
characterized by grandeur
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/
in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
men'snounUS /menz/
a public toilet for men
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
possessing material wealth
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
shadedadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪdɪd/
protected from heat and light with shade or shadow
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
Stafford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
sweetlyadverbUS /ˈswiːtli/
in an affectionate or loving manner (“sweet” is sometimes a poetic or informal variant of “sweetly”)
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The ball was at its height.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
titledadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪtəld/
belonging to the peerage
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
warmedadjectiveUS /wɔːrmd/
having been warmed up
From this reading Even the coldest and most _blasé_ of the guests had warmed up and caught fire at the blaze of excitement and enjoyment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The ball was at its height.
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
wealthyadjectiveUS /ˈwelθi/
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading But through it all, weird and ghost-like shone Ida's girlish face, with its love-lit eyes and sweetly curving lips.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading A dance was in progress, and Stafford, as he stood by the doorway and looked mechanically and dully at the whirling crowd, the kaleidoscope of colour formed by the rich dresses, the fluttering fans, and the dashes of black represented by the men's clothes, thought vaguely that he had never seen anything more magnificent, more elegant of wealth and success.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The ball-room was dazzling in the beauty of its decorations and the soft effulgence of the shaded electric light, in which the magnificent jewels of the titled and wealthy women seemed to glow with a subdued and chastened fire.
