used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
a feeling of delighted approval and liking
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading GRIEF AND DANCING.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
any thing at all
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
apologizedverbUS /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪzd/
past form of “apologize” — acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
appointmentnounUS /əˈpɔɪntmənt/
the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
curtseynoun
bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading GRIEF AND DANCING.
dancing-masternoun
a professional teacher of dancing
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
dancing-school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
to come or go into
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
a social unit living together
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
governessnounUS /ˈɡʌvərnəs/
a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading GRIEF AND DANCING.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
imitationnounUS /ˌɪməˈteɪʃən/
the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
involuntaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlənteri/
not subject to the control of the will
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
and nothing more
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
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 Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
come together
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
modestynounUS /ˈmɑːdəsti/
freedom from vanity or conceit
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
go across or through
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
RebeccanounUS /rəˈbekə/
(Old Testament) wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
sandalledadjective
shod with sandals
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
sashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
spectatorsnounUS /ˈspekteɪtərz/
plural of “spectator” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
stumpingnounUS /ˈstʌmpɪŋ/
campaigning for something by making political speeches (stump speeches)
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Their dancing-school curtsey filled her with admiration; and she pulled up her head, and began bending her knees in involuntary imitation, when she remembered that she had better not try anything so new before so many spectators as were assembled in the room.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Rebecca was so anxious about her appointment, that she arrived at the dancing-school some time before the party she expected to meet.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
at the time that
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A family of pretty little children were just sashed and sandalled, and made ready to enter the great room, when she arrived; and she drew back, with her usual modesty, to allow them and their governess to pass.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She went up to the dancing-master, in her usual stumping pace, and apologized for not making such a curtsey on her entrance as those young ladies, as she had not been used to it.
