used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was an excitement, and a brilliancy, and a spirituality, about our circles, which we do not recognise now.
ambitiousadjectiveUS /æmˈbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire for success or achievement
From this reading Never had a young and ambitious woman--a beauty and a genius--a finer moment for the commencement of her power.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading Never had a young and ambitious woman--a beauty and a genius--a finer moment for the commencement of her power.
BEHINDprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
BEINGauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
of short duration or distance
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
brilliancynoun
a quality that outshines the usual
From this reading There was an excitement, and a brilliancy, and a spirituality, about our circles, which we do not recognise now.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
ByronnounUS /ˈbaɪrən/
English romantic poet notorious for his rebellious and unconventional lifestyle (1788-1824)
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
a period of 100 years
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
circlesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəlz/
plural of “circle” — ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading There was an excitement, and a brilliancy, and a spirituality, about our circles, which we do not recognise now.
commencementnounUS /kəˈmensmənt/
the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading Never had a young and ambitious woman--a beauty and a genius--a finer moment for the commencement of her power.
CURTAINSnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There was an excitement, and a brilliancy, and a spirituality, about our circles, which we do not recognise now.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
enjoymentnounUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪmənt/
the pleasure felt when having a good time
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading There was an excitement, and a brilliancy, and a spirituality, about our circles, which we do not recognise now.
fineradjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnər/
(comparative of “fine”) greater in quality or excellence
From this reading Never had a young and ambitious woman--a beauty and a genius--a finer moment for the commencement of her power.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Never had a young and ambitious woman--a beauty and a genius--a finer moment for the commencement of her power.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading Never had a young and ambitious woman--a beauty and a genius--a finer moment for the commencement of her power.
GRANDE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Never had a young and ambitious woman--a beauty and a genius--a finer moment for the commencement of her power.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
idlers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
INSIGHTnounUS /ˈɪnsaɪt/
clear or deep perception of a situation
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
INTOprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
immediately past
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
the literary culture
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
a particular point in time
From this reading Never had a young and ambitious woman--a beauty and a genius--a finer moment for the commencement of her power.
MONDE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never had a young and ambitious woman--a beauty and a genius--a finer moment for the commencement of her power.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was an excitement, and a brilliancy, and a spirituality, about our circles, which we do not recognise now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading There was an excitement, and a brilliancy, and a spirituality, about our circles, which we do not recognise now.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Never had a young and ambitious woman--a beauty and a genius--a finer moment for the commencement of her power.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
recogniseverbUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪz/
show approval or appreciation of
From this reading There was an excitement, and a brilliancy, and a spirituality, about our circles, which we do not recognise now.
possessing material wealth
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
ROSE-COLOURED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
express in speech
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
spiritualitynounUS /ˌspɪrɪtʃuːˈælətiː/
property or income owned by a church
From this reading There was an excitement, and a brilliancy, and a spirituality, about our circles, which we do not recognise now.
Staelnoun
French romantic writer (1766-1817)
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GRANDE MONDE;--BEING A SEARCH BEHIND THE ROSE-COLOURED CURTAINS.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an excitement, and a brilliancy, and a spirituality, about our circles, which we do not recognise now.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was an excitement, and a brilliancy, and a spirituality, about our circles, which we do not recognise now.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Never had a young and ambitious woman--a beauty and a genius--a finer moment for the commencement of her power.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The time we now speak of was the most brilliant the English world, during the last half century, has known.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Never had a young and ambitious woman--a beauty and a genius--a finer moment for the commencement of her power.
zenithnounUS /ˈziːnəθ/
the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading Lord Byron was in his brief and dazzling zenith; De Stael was in London; the Peace had turned the attention of rich idlers to social enjoyment and to letters.
