used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
(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 No one knew just how she had been christened—if at all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading No one knew just how she had been christened—if at all.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading No one knew just how she had been christened—if at all.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
bottlesnounUS /ˈbɑːtəlz/
plural of “bottle” — a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
christenedverbUS /ˈkrɪsənd/
past form of “christen” — administer baptism to
From this reading No one knew just how she had been christened—if at all.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course that was not her name.
fadsnounUS /fædz/
plural of “fad” — an interest followed with exaggerated zeal
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
GoringnounUS /ˈɡɔːrɪŋ/
German politician in Nazi Germany who founded the Gestapo and mobilized Germany for war (1893-1946)
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No one knew just how she had been christened—if at all.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Of course that was not her name.
cause to move by striking
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one knew just how she had been christened—if at all.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading No one knew just how she had been christened—if at all.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
iridescentadjectiveUS /ˌɪrəˈdesənt/
varying in color when seen in different lights or from different angles
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
and nothing more
From this reading No one knew just how she had been christened—if at all.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading No one knew just how she had been christened—if at all.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Of course that was not her name.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
not any; not one
From this reading No one knew just how she had been christened—if at all.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Of course that was not her name.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course that was not her name.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one knew just how she had been christened—if at all.
ornateadjectiveUS /ɔːrˈneɪt/
marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative details
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
PeacocknounUS /ˈpiːkɑːk/
European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
perfumesnounUS /pərˈfjuːmz/
plural of “perfume” — a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
participate in games or sport
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
purposesnounUS /ˈpɜːrpəsəz/
plural of “purpose” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
season'snounUS /ˈsiːzənz/
possessive form of “season” — a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No one knew just how she had been christened—if at all.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
strutted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of course that was not her name.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
typhooned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Of course that was not her name.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There were perfumes with bottles far more valuable than their contents on which strutted the iridescent bird of beauty.
worshipfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrʃəpfəl/
showing adoration
From this reading To a worshipful public she was known as Jane Goring, which, as names go, answered all purposes and was quite as simple as she was ornate.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading But “Peacock” was the title of the play in which she had made the season’s hit and a wave of fads in honor of it had typhooned over New York in consequence.
