used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
(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 All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
a cherished desire
From this reading Saratoga and Newport were perfect hot-beds of gaiety, splendor and trivial ambition.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading STRIFE FOR AN EARL.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Thistledown--Thistledown!--join the pursuit; While fashion flies onward, let wisdom be mute.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been a brilliant season in the fashionable world that year.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading It had been a brilliant season in the fashionable world that year.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
From this reading STRIFE FOR AN EARL.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Thistledown--Thistledown!--join the pursuit; While fashion flies onward, let wisdom be mute.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading It had been a brilliant season in the fashionable world that year.
fleetingadjectiveUS /ˈfliːtɪŋ/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading Thistledown--Thistledown!--join the pursuit; While fashion flies onward, let wisdom be mute.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading STRIFE FOR AN EARL.
gaietynoun
a gay feeling
From this reading Saratoga and Newport were perfect hot-beds of gaiety, splendor and trivial ambition.
assemble or get together
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been a brilliant season in the fashionable world that year.
hot-beds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saratoga and Newport were perfect hot-beds of gaiety, splendor and trivial ambition.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had been a brilliant season in the fashionable world that year.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been a brilliant season in the fashionable world that year.
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading Thistledown--Thistledown!--join the pursuit; While fashion flies onward, let wisdom be mute.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Thistledown--Thistledown!--join the pursuit; While fashion flies onward, let wisdom be mute.
life'snounUS /laɪfs/
possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
muteadjectiveUS /mjuːt/
expressed without speech
From this reading Thistledown--Thistledown!--join the pursuit; While fashion flies onward, let wisdom be mute.
NewportnounUS /ˈnuːpɔːrt/
a port city in southeastern Wales
From this reading Saratoga and Newport were perfect hot-beds of gaiety, splendor and trivial ambition.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Saratoga and Newport were perfect hot-beds of gaiety, splendor and trivial ambition.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading Thistledown--Thistledown!--join the pursuit; While fashion flies onward, let wisdom be mute.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading Saratoga and Newport were perfect hot-beds of gaiety, splendor and trivial ambition.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading Thistledown--Thistledown!--join the pursuit; While fashion flies onward, let wisdom be mute.
SaratoganounUS /ˌserəˈtoʊɡə/
a species of large fish found in Australian rivers
From this reading Saratoga and Newport were perfect hot-beds of gaiety, splendor and trivial ambition.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading It had been a brilliant season in the fashionable world that year.
plural of “soul” — the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
spannounUS /spæn/
the complete duration of something
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
splendornounUS /ˈsplen.dər/
Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur and brilliance.
From this reading Saratoga and Newport were perfect hot-beds of gaiety, splendor and trivial ambition.
STRIFEnounUS /straɪf/
lack of agreement or harmony
From this reading STRIFE FOR AN EARL.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had been a brilliant season in the fashionable world that year.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Thistledown--Thistledown!--join the pursuit; While fashion flies onward, let wisdom be mute.
Thistledownnoun
pappus of a thistle consisting of silky featherlike hairs attached to the seed-like fruit of a thistle
From this reading Thistledown--Thistledown!--join the pursuit; While fashion flies onward, let wisdom be mute.
trivialadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪviəl/
(informal) small and of little importance
From this reading Saratoga and Newport were perfect hot-beds of gaiety, splendor and trivial ambition.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Saratoga and Newport were perfect hot-beds of gaiety, splendor and trivial ambition.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Thistledown--Thistledown!--join the pursuit; While fashion flies onward, let wisdom be mute.
accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
From this reading Thistledown--Thistledown!--join the pursuit; While fashion flies onward, let wisdom be mute.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It had been a brilliant season in the fashionable world that year.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading It had been a brilliant season in the fashionable world that year.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading All pleasure is fleeting, and life's but a span, Come gather up, Thistledown, souls, while you can!
