used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
afternoon'snounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːnz/
possessive form of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Her afternoon's indisposition was quite forgotten.
almondnounUS /ˈɑːmənd/
small bushy deciduous tree native to Asia and North Africa having pretty pink blossoms and highly prized edible nuts enclosed in a hard green hull; cultivated in southern Australia and California
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
almondsnounUS /ˈɑːlməndz/
plural of “almond” — small bushy deciduous tree native to Asia and North Africa having pretty pink blossoms and highly prized edible nuts enclosed in a hard green hull; cultivated in southern Australia and California
From this reading The almonds were crisp and the champagne dry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
approvinglyadverbUS /əˈpruːvɪŋli/
in an approving manner
From this reading She nodded at her host approvingly.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She nodded at her host approvingly.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
champagnenounUS /ʃæmˈpeɪn/
a white sparkling wine either produced in Champagne or resembling that produced there
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
collarnounUS /ˈkɑːlər/
a band that fits around the neck and is usually folded over
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
crispadjectiveUS /krɪsp/
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The almonds were crisp and the champagne dry.
dinner-gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading The almonds were crisp and the champagne dry.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading Her afternoon's indisposition was quite forgotten.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading She nodded at her host approvingly.
imitationnounUS /ˌɪməˈteɪʃən/
the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
indispositionnoun
a slight illness
From this reading Her afternoon's indisposition was quite forgotten.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
used to form the superlative
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
not any; not one
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading She nodded at her host approvingly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
pearlsnounUS /pɜːrlz/
plural of “pearl” — a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
saltedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːltɪd/
(used especially of meats) preserved in salt
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
sipnounUS /sɪp/
a small drink
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
express in words
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The Princess helped herself to a salted almond and took her first sip of champagne.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading She was wearing a new and most successful dinner-gown of black velvet, and she was quite sure that in the subdued light no one could tell that the pearls in the collar around her neck were imitation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The almonds were crisp and the champagne dry.
