used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
assemblagenounUS /əˈsemblədʒ/
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
ball-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
a state at a particular time
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
a social unit living together
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
festivitiesnounUS /feˈstɪvətiz/
plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
gradesnounUS /ɡreɪdz/
plural of “grade” — a body of students who are taught together
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
house-warming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
informaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrməl/
not formal
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
judiciousadjectiveUS /dʒuːˈdɪʃəs/
marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
MajoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
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 The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
amounting to a large indefinite number
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
and nothing more
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading SNOW'S PARTY.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
presidingverbUS /prɪˈzaɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “preside” — act as president
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
proprietornounUS /prəˈpraɪətər/
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
on the contrary
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
cut with a saw
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
SNOW'SnounUS /snoʊz/
possessive form of “snow” — precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading SNOW'S PARTY.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
not in physical motion
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
the act of using
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The evening of the occasion saw not only a numerous assemblage, but one in which the highest grades of society were fully represented.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The Major was the presiding genius of the festivities; and while the affair was in a way informal, and an assemblage of friends and neighbors of the owner, still he had made a judicious use of his authority, and had invited a good many rather prominent people from a distance.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The ball-room and most of the rooms were complete, and the building was, on the whole, in a good condition to receive a large company.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was called a house-warming, although the proprietor had not taken possession of the house with his family.
