used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was silence for a little while.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
ball-dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
firefliesnounUS /ˈfaɪərflaɪz/
plural of “firefly” — tropical American click beetle having bright luminous spots
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
flaredverbUS /flerd/
past form of “flare” — burn brightly
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was silence for a little while.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
hansoms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
intactadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtækt/
constituting the undiminished entirety; lacking nothing essential especially not damaged
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
Jeannie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
and nothing more
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
lightnessnounUS /ˈlaɪtnəs/
a feeling of joy and pride
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
provided with artificial light
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was silence for a little while.
loudlyadverbUS /ˈlaʊdli/
with relatively high volume
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
mellowedadjectiveUS /ˈmeloʊd/
having a full and pleasing flavor through proper aging
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
motorsnounUS /ˈmoʊtərz/
plural of “motor” — machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
information about recent and important events
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
niceradjectiveUS /ˈnaɪsər/
comparative of “nice” — pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
rhythmnounUS /ˈrɪðəm/
the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Oh, I could get into a ball-dress and go and dance now for lightness of heart," said Jeannie.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading There was silence for a little while.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
sonorousadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːnərəs/
full and loud and deep
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
make square
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
not in physical motion
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
possessing sweep
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was silence for a little while.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
throngnounUS /θrɔːŋ/
a large gathering of people
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An hour had passed since they began to talk, but it was still short of midnight, and the hansoms and motors still swept about the square like a throng of sonorous fireflies.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was silence for a little while.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading There was silence for a little while.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Just opposite a big house flared with lit windows, and the sound of the band came loudly across the open space, a little mellowed by the distance, but with the rhythm of its music intact.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "But I won't; I will do something much nicer, and that is I will hear from you the news of your year.
