Chapter XVII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

-ing form of “bewilder” — be a mystery or bewildering to

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

a rapid active commotion

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

indicating a lack of maturity

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

able to control or determine policy

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading A man was evidently doing a song and patter turn to judge from the guffaws from the front of the house.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading A man was evidently doing a song and patter turn to judge from the guffaws from the front of the house.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

set up or found

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A man was evidently doing a song and patter turn to judge from the guffaws from the front of the house.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

depressingly dark

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

plural of “guffaw” — a burst of deep loud hearty laughter

From this reading A man was evidently doing a song and patter turn to judge from the guffaws from the front of the house.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading A man was evidently doing a song and patter turn to judge from the guffaws from the front of the house.

a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

determine the result of (a competition)

From this reading A man was evidently doing a song and patter turn to judge from the guffaws from the front of the house.

a focus of public attention

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading A man was evidently doing a song and patter turn to judge from the guffaws from the front of the house.

the force of workers available

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)

From this reading A man was evidently doing a song and patter turn to judge from the guffaws from the front of the house.

plural of “property” — something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

on the contrary

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

cut with a saw

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading A man was evidently doing a song and patter turn to judge from the guffaws from the front of the house.

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading “THE STAR TURN.”

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading “THE STAR TURN.”

a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading “THE STAR TURN.”

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

superlative of “vague” — not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

precisely as stated

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Claudia had never been behind the scenes of a theatre, and she found the _va et vient_, the bustle and hurry of a music-hall almost bewildering, so that she received the vaguest impressions of her journey through to the front.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading A man was evidently doing a song and patter turn to judge from the guffaws from the front of the house.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading She could see above her head men up in the flies controlling the limelight and the curtain, all of whom were in their shirt-sleeves.

in the company of; together with

From this reading She felt, rather than saw, the gloomy floor space behind the set littered with properties, all looking very ludicrous and childish.