used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading It needed but a glance to tell me that these were not wits and beaux, but, in Richelieu’s words, men of action.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
beauxnounUS /boʊ/
plural of “beau” — a man who is the lover of a man or woman
From this reading It needed but a glance to tell me that these were not wits and beaux, but, in Richelieu’s words, men of action.
betokening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It needed but a glance to tell me that these were not wits and beaux, but, in Richelieu’s words, men of action.
a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading My first impression was one of disappointment, for the scene was less striking than I had thought to find it.
diversitynounUS /dɪˈvɜːrsɪti/
noticeable heterogeneity
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
put on clothes
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
DU
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
DuchessnounUS /ˈdʌtʃəs/
the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading My first impression was one of disappointment, for the scene was less striking than I had thought to find it.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading My first impression was one of disappointment, for the scene was less striking than I had thought to find it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
brought together in one place
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading It needed but a glance to tell me that these were not wits and beaux, but, in Richelieu’s words, men of action.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
GroupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading My first impression was one of disappointment, for the scene was less striking than I had thought to find it.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading My first impression was one of disappointment, for the scene was less striking than I had thought to find it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading My first impression was one of disappointment, for the scene was less striking than I had thought to find it.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
MAINEnounUS /meɪn/
a state in New England
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
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 There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
the force of workers available
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
used to form the superlative
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
motivenounUS /ˈmoʊtɪv/
the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My first impression was one of disappointment, for the scene was less striking than I had thought to find it.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading It needed but a glance to tell me that these were not wits and beaux, but, in Richelieu’s words, men of action.
not any; not one
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
ranksnounUS /ræŋks/
plural of “rank” — a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
Richelieu's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It needed but a glance to tell me that these were not wits and beaux, but, in Richelieu’s words, men of action.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
SALONnounUS /səˈlɑːn/
gallery where works of art can be displayed
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading My first impression was one of disappointment, for the scene was less striking than I had thought to find it.
unusual or striking
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
stratanounUS /ˈstrætə/
plural of “stratum” — one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock)
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading My first impression was one of disappointment, for the scene was less striking than I had thought to find it.
express in words
From this reading It needed but a glance to tell me that these were not wits and beaux, but, in Richelieu’s words, men of action.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading My first impression was one of disappointment, for the scene was less striking than I had thought to find it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It needed but a glance to tell me that these were not wits and beaux, but, in Richelieu’s words, men of action.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading My first impression was one of disappointment, for the scene was less striking than I had thought to find it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading My first impression was one of disappointment, for the scene was less striking than I had thought to find it.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Groups of people were scattered here and there down the long room, and at the farther end a little court was gathered about a lady whom I did not doubt was the duchess herself.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE SALON OF MADAME DU MAINE It was with no little interest that I looked about me, for the salon of the Duchess du Maine was one of the most famous in France.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading It needed but a glance to tell me that these were not wits and beaux, but, in Richelieu’s words, men of action.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There were few other women present, a circumstance which greatly astonished me, and the men had a singular diversity of dress and manner, betokening that it was no ordinary motive which had drawn them together from so many ranks of life and so many strata of society.
the words that are spoken
From this reading It needed but a glance to tell me that these were not wits and beaux, but, in Richelieu’s words, men of action.
