used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The dinner was a grand success.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
put or send forth
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
congenialadjectiveUS /kənˈdʒiːnjəl/
suitable to your needs
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course, June was at Dick’s side.
Dick'snounUS /dɪks/
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading Of course, June was at Dick’s side.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading THE DINNER.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
set up or found
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
brought together in one place
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
a young female
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading The dinner was a grand success.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading Of course, June was at Dick’s side.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
light-heartedadjective
carefree and happy and lighthearted
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
lightestadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪtəst/
superlative of “light” — of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
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 Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
mirthnounUS /mɜːrθ/
great merriment
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
not any; not one
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course, June was at Dick’s side.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
restraintnounUS /rɪˈstreɪnt/
the act of controlling by restraining someone or something
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Of course, June was at Dick’s side.
skillfullyadverbUS /ˈskɪlfəli/
with skill
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
SteelenounUS /stiːl/
English writer (1672-1729)
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading The dinner was a grand success.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DINNER.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The dinner was a grand success.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
withdrawnadjectiveUS /wɪθˈdrɔːn/
withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
From this reading For the time being, Mrs. Steele and the two elderly ladies had withdrawn, and there was no one present to cast the lightest restraint on the innocent mirth of the gathering.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Two long tables had been placed end to end, and around these tables gathered the light-hearted guests, skillfully seated in such a way that each youth found a congenial and charming girl at his elbow.
