used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading People who had not been able to obtain reserved seats wished to arrive early.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading People who had not been able to obtain reserved seats wished to arrive early.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading People who had not been able to obtain reserved seats wished to arrive early.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The lectures which had begun by being popular had ended by being fashionable.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The lectures which had begun by being popular had ended by being fashionable.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading People who had not been able to obtain reserved seats wished to arrive early.
elementsnounUS /ˈeləmənts/
violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading The lectures which had begun by being popular had ended by being fashionable.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading The lectures which had begun by being popular had ended by being fashionable.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading People who had not been able to obtain reserved seats wished to arrive early.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
lavishlyadverbUS /ˈlævɪʃli/
in a wasteful manner
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
lectureverbUS /ˈlektʃər/
deliver a lecture or talk
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
lecturesnounUS /ˈlektʃərz/
plural of “lecture” — a speech that is open to the public
From this reading The lectures which had begun by being popular had ended by being fashionable.
the force of workers available
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
newspapersnounUS /ˈnuːzpeɪpərz/
plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading People who had not been able to obtain reserved seats wished to arrive early.
come into possession of
From this reading People who had not been able to obtain reserved seats wished to arrive early.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
outsetnounUS /ˈaʊtset/
the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading People who had not been able to obtain reserved seats wished to arrive early.
politiciannounUS /ˌpɑːləˈtɪʃən/
a leader engaged in civil administration
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading The lectures which had begun by being popular had ended by being fashionable.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
reservedadjectiveUS /rɪˈzɜːrvd/
set aside for the use of a particular person or party
From this reading People who had not been able to obtain reserved seats wished to arrive early.
scientificadjectiveUS /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/
of or relating to the practice of science
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading People who had not been able to obtain reserved seats wished to arrive early.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
sprinklingnounUS /ˈsprɪŋklɪŋ/
a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
tendenciesnounUS /ˈtendənsiz/
plural of “tendency” — an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading At the outset an audience of sober, religious tendencies had attended them, but after the first one had been delivered other elements had presented themselves.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
toilettes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
be dressed in
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
well-knownadjectiveUS /ˈwelˈnoʊn/
widely or fully known
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The street in which the lecture hall stood began to wear the air of being a centre of interest some time before the doors of the building were opened.
which person or people
From this reading People who had not been able to obtain reserved seats wished to arrive early.
belonging to which person
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading People who had not been able to obtain reserved seats wished to arrive early.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There had been a sprinkling of serious scientific men, a prominent politician or so, some society women whose faces and toilettes were well-known and lavishly described in the newspapers.
