aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She accepted the offer with small hesitation, asking no one's advice about an unheralded début.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading She accepted the offer with small hesitation, asking no one's advice about an unheralded début.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading She accepted the offer with small hesitation, asking no one's advice about an unheralded début.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She accepted the offer with small hesitation, asking no one's advice about an unheralded début.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
any thing at all
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
costumesnounUS /kɑːˈstuːmz/
plural of “costume” — the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
criticismnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/
disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
début
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She accepted the offer with small hesitation, asking no one's advice about an unheralded début.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
FaustnounUS /faʊst/
an alchemist of German legend who sold his soul to Mephistopheles in exchange for knowledge
From this reading The opera to be given was "Faust."
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
a man of refinement
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The opera to be given was "Faust."
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
indecision in speech or action
From this reading She accepted the offer with small hesitation, asking no one's advice about an unheralded début.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
indisposedadjective
somewhat ill or prone to illness
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
Josef
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
Katrine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
MelbanounUS /ˈmelbə/
Australian operatic soprano (1861-1931)
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
MetropolitanadjectiveUS /ˌmetrəˈpɑːlətən/
relating to or characteristic of a metropolis
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
much-impressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
not any; not one
From this reading She accepted the offer with small hesitation, asking no one's advice about an unheralded début.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading She accepted the offer with small hesitation, asking no one's advice about an unheralded début.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She accepted the offer with small hesitation, asking no one's advice about an unheralded début.
operanounUS /ˈɑːprə/
a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes
From this reading The opera to be given was "Faust."
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
prima-donna's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
reasonedadjectiveUS /ˈriːzənd/
logically valid
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
rehearsalsnounUS /rɪˈhɜːrsəlz/
plural of “rehearsal” — a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert)
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
deliver by singing
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She accepted the offer with small hesitation, asking no one's advice about an unheralded début.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
studyingnounUS /ˈstʌdiɪŋ/
reading carefully with intent to remember
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She was too great an artist to desire anything but stern criticism, and if she could sing greatly, she reasoned, the public would be quick enough to discover it.
unheraldedadjectiveUS /ənˈherəldɪd/
without warning or announcement
From this reading She accepted the offer with small hesitation, asking no one's advice about an unheralded début.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
at the time that
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She accepted the offer with small hesitation, asking no one's advice about an unheralded début.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Her costumes were quite ready by reason of her Paris début, and she went to the morning rehearsals with the same joy in her work that she had known when studying with Josef.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading The following week Melba was indisposed, and the much-impressed gentleman of the Metropolitan wrote to Katrine, asking if she would sing for them in the great prima-donna's place.
