used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was dancing at the Fosses' on two Fridays in the month.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading Every careful housewife will understand.
contributionnounUS /ˌkɑːntrəˈbjuːʃən/
the effort contributed by a person in bringing about a result
From this reading It was their contribution toward the gaiety of the winter.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading There was dancing at the Fosses' on two Fridays in the month.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every careful housewife will understand.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
forethoughtnounUS /ˈfɔːrθɔːt/
planning or plotting in advance of acting
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
Foss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was with Leslie that Mrs. Foss talked such matters over.
Fosses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was dancing at the Fosses' on two Fridays in the month.
FridaysnounUS /ˈfraɪdiz/
plural of “friday” — the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
From this reading There was dancing at the Fosses' on two Fridays in the month.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
gaietynoun
a gay feeling
From this reading It was their contribution toward the gaiety of the winter.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
housewifenounUS /ˈhaʊswaɪf/
a wife who manages a household while her husband earns the family income
From this reading Every careful housewife will understand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was dancing at the Fosses' on two Fridays in the month.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was their contribution toward the gaiety of the winter.
Leslie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was with Leslie that Mrs. Foss talked such matters over.
engage in
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
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 They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It was with Leslie that Mrs. Foss talked such matters over.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading There was dancing at the Fosses' on two Fridays in the month.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading It was with Leslie that Mrs. Foss talked such matters over.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was their contribution toward the gaiety of the winter.
many times at short intervals
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was dancing at the Fosses' on two Fridays in the month.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was with Leslie that Mrs. Foss talked such matters over.
plannedadjectiveUS /plænd/
designed or carried out according to a plan
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading It was with Leslie that Mrs. Foss talked such matters over.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was with Leslie that Mrs. Foss talked such matters over.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was dancing at the Fosses' on two Fridays in the month.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was their contribution toward the gaiety of the winter.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was dancing at the Fosses' on two Fridays in the month.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading It was their contribution toward the gaiety of the winter.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There was dancing at the Fosses' on two Fridays in the month.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading Every careful housewife will understand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was dancing at the Fosses' on two Fridays in the month.
at the time that
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Every careful housewife will understand.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading It was their contribution toward the gaiety of the winter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would.
