used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading She was accustomed to adulation, she was used to the tumult of society.
adulationnounUS /ˌædʒəˈleɪʃən/
servile flattery; exaggerated and hypocritical praise
From this reading She was accustomed to adulation, she was used to the tumult of society.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The new mistress was full of life and the joy of living.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
brought into existence
From this reading Yvonne Lestrange, in a way, had been born to purple and fine linen.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
conventnounUS /ˈkɑːnvənt/
a religious residence especially for nuns
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
apart from; not including
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Yvonne Lestrange, in a way, had been born to purple and fine linen.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The new mistress was full of life and the joy of living.
gaietynoun
a gay feeling
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
invadedverbUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdəd/
past form of “invade” — march aggressively into another's territory by military force for the purposes of conquest and occupation
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading The new mistress was full of life and the joy of living.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
Lestrange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yvonne Lestrange, in a way, had been born to purple and fine linen.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The new mistress was full of life and the joy of living.
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
From this reading Yvonne Lestrange, in a way, had been born to purple and fine linen.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The new mistress was full of life and the joy of living.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading The new mistress was full of life and the joy of living.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The new mistress was full of life and the joy of living.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading Yvonne Lestrange, in a way, had been born to purple and fine linen.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
an educational institution
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was accustomed to adulation, she was used to the tumult of society.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading She was accustomed to adulation, she was used to the tumult of society.
staidadjectiveUS /steɪd/
characterized by dignity and propriety
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading A certain element of gaiety invaded the staid old house in these days.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was accustomed to adulation, she was used to the tumult of society.
tumultnounUS /ˈtuːməlt/
a state of commotion and noise and confusion
From this reading She was accustomed to adulation, she was used to the tumult of society.
not known
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading She was accustomed to adulation, she was used to the tumult of society.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The new mistress was full of life and the joy of living.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Yvonne Lestrange, in a way, had been born to purple and fine linen.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Her life, since she left the convent school, evidently had been one in which rest, except physical, was unknown.
Yvonne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yvonne Lestrange, in a way, had been born to purple and fine linen.
