used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She knew the value of a proper social introduction.
adamantadjectiveUS /ˈædəmənt/
impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Mary "came out" the winter after her graduation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
assistedadjectiveUS /əˈsɪstɪd/
having help; often used as a combining form
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
auntsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Mary "came out" the winter after her graduation.
a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
cheerfullyadverbUS /ˈtʃɪrfəli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
dispensedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspenst/
distributed or weighted out in carefully determined portions
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading Helen hadn't been going to finishing school for nothing.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
the act of departing
From this reading Helen hadn't been going to finishing school for nothing.
graduationnounUS /ˌɡrædʒuːˈeɪʃən/
the successful completion of a program of study
From this reading Mary "came out" the winter after her graduation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen hadn't been going to finishing school for nothing.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mary "came out" the winter after her graduation.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
introductionnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/
the act of beginning something new
From this reading She knew the value of a proper social introduction.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew the value of a proper social introduction.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Mary "came out" the winter after her graduation.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Helen hadn't been going to finishing school for nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She knew the value of a proper social introduction.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Mary "came out" the winter after her graduation.
ParsonsnounUS /ˈpɑːrsənz/
United States sociologist (1902-1979)
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading She knew the value of a proper social introduction.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
an educational institution
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading She knew the value of a proper social introduction.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mary "came out" the winter after her graduation.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading She knew the value of a proper social introduction.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But in the first place her aunts were adamant, and in the second place they were assisted by Helen.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Mary "came out" the winter after her graduation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading If she had been left to herself she would have dispensed with the ceremony quite as cheerfully as she had dispensed with Miss Parsons' School for Young Ladies.
