used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
having fair knowledge of
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading "For ourselves a few words will suffice.
start firing a weapon
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "For ourselves a few words will suffice.
brought together in one place
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
Gloria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
hostessesnounUS /ˈhoʊstəsəz/
plural of “hostess” — a woman host
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
immediately past
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
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 When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
mansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading "For ourselves a few words will suffice.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
Pensinger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
salonnounUS /səˈlɑːn/
gallery where works of art can be displayed
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
southeastnounUS /ˌsaʊˈθiːst/
the compass point midway between south and east; at 135 degrees
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
sufficeverbUS /səˈfaɪs/
be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity
From this reading "For ourselves a few words will suffice.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
express a supposition
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
express in words
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such a merry dinner party as it was in one corner of the big southeast corner room of the old Pensinger mansion.
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Suppose we each tell the story of our lives," Gloria suggested, "and in that way we may the sooner become really acquainted.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
at the time that
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading When at last the dishes had been washed and put away, a fire was started on the wide hearth in the long salon and the girls gathered about it.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "For ourselves a few words will suffice.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
the words that are spoken
From this reading "For ourselves a few words will suffice.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young hostesses by neither word nor manner betrayed the fact that they were used to better things.
