used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BIRTHDAY FÊTE The nineteenth of June was the clearstarcher's birthday.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Why should she save for her husband to spend at all the wineshops in the neighborhood?
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Why should she save for her husband to spend at all the wineshops in the neighborhood?
BIRTHDAYnounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading A BIRTHDAY FÊTE The nineteenth of June was the clearstarcher's birthday.
clearstarcher's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BIRTHDAY FÊTE The nineteenth of June was the clearstarcher's birthday.
commendedverbUS /kəˈmendɪd/
past form of “commend” — express approval of
From this reading Virginie highly commended Gervaise for living luxuriously.
Coupeau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
the act of consuming liquids
From this reading What was the use of her husband drinking up everything?
all things; all of a situation
From this reading What was the use of her husband drinking up everything?
accept an excuse for
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
festivitiesnounUS /feˈstɪvətiz/
plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
feteverbUS /feɪt/
have a celebration
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
FÊTE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BIRTHDAY FÊTE The nineteenth of June was the clearstarcher's birthday.
Gervaise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Virginie highly commended Gervaise for living luxuriously.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading What was the use of her husband drinking up everything?
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading Virginie highly commended Gervaise for living luxuriously.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading What was the use of her husband drinking up everything?
idlenessnounUS /ˈaɪdəlnəs/
having no employment
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
inventedverbUS /ˌɪnˈventəd/
past form of “invent” — come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading A BIRTHDAY FÊTE The nineteenth of June was the clearstarcher's birthday.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Virginie highly commended Gervaise for living luxuriously.
luxuriouslyadverb
in an indulgently luxurious manner
From this reading Virginie highly commended Gervaise for living luxuriously.
mansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading Why should she save for her husband to spend at all the wineshops in the neighborhood?
nineteenthadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the eighteenth in position
From this reading A BIRTHDAY FÊTE The nineteenth of June was the clearstarcher's birthday.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A BIRTHDAY FÊTE The nineteenth of June was the clearstarcher's birthday.
pretextnounUS /ˈpriːtekst/
something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
saintsnounUS /seɪnts/
plural of “saint” — a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
except for; apart from
From this reading Why should she save for her husband to spend at all the wineshops in the neighborhood?
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why should she save for her husband to spend at all the wineshops in the neighborhood?
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Why should she save for her husband to spend at all the wineshops in the neighborhood?
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading Why should she save for her husband to spend at all the wineshops in the neighborhood?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A BIRTHDAY FÊTE The nineteenth of June was the clearstarcher's birthday.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading What was the use of her husband drinking up everything?
the act of using
From this reading What was the use of her husband drinking up everything?
Virginie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Virginie highly commended Gervaise for living luxuriously.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A BIRTHDAY FÊTE The nineteenth of June was the clearstarcher's birthday.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was always an excuse for a fete in the Coupeau mansion; saints were invented to serve as a pretext for idleness and festivities.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What was the use of her husband drinking up everything?
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why should she save for her husband to spend at all the wineshops in the neighborhood?
wineshops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should she save for her husband to spend at all the wineshops in the neighborhood?
