used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HOW TO MAKE A FAN.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
in the past
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
carefully weighed
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
conspicuousadjectiveUS /kənˈspɪkjuːəs/
obvious to the eye or mind
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
daintyadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪnti/
delicately beautiful
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
damesnounUS /deɪmz/
plural of “dame” — informal terms for a (young) woman
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
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 Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
FANverbUS /fæn/
strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)
From this reading HOW TO MAKE A FAN.
FansnounUS /fænz/
plural of “fan” — a device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
promote over another
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
galesnounUS /ɡeɪlz/
plural of “gale” — a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
gracefullyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪsfəli/
in a graceful manner
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW TO MAKE A FAN.
of great significance or value
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
engage in
From this reading HOW TO MAKE A FAN.
be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
in motion
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
not any; not one
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
and nothing more
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
PatronnounUS /ˈpeɪtrən/
a regular customer
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
participate in games or sport
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
(of games) engaged in
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
queensnounUS /kwiːnz/
a borough of New York City
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
on the contrary
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
relievesverbUS /riˈliːvz/
third-person singular of “relieve” — provide physical relief, as from pain
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
except for; apart from
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
plural of “subject” — the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
sultryadjectiveUS /ˈsʌltri/
sexually exciting or gratifying
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Queen Elizabeth regarded it with so much favor that she was called the “Patron of Fans,” and she made a rule that no present save a fan should be accepted by English queens from their subjects.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HOW TO MAKE A FAN.
toynounUS /tɔɪ/
an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
precisely as stated
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To manage a fan gracefully was some time ago considered very essential by fair dames of society, and in the dainty hand of many a famous beauty it has played a conspicuous part.
belonging to which person
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading “That graceful toy whose moving play With gentle gales relieves the sultry day.”
but in spite of that
From this reading A FAN is only a pretty trifle, yet it has been made rather an important one.
