used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The king came to his summer palace, and the great lords kept up their state about him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In contrast to the courtly splendor, the heath was fringed with an encampment as gay and varied as any gypsy gathering.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading In contrast to the courtly splendor, the heath was fringed with an encampment as gay and varied as any gypsy gathering.
ArlingtonnounUS /ˈɑːrlɪŋtən/
a city in northern Texas between Dallas and Fort Worth
From this reading Euston was famed for the balls of my Lord Arlington in the days of Charles the Second, and times were little changed in that respect.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In contrast to the courtly splendor, the heath was fringed with an encampment as gay and varied as any gypsy gathering.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
ballsnounUS /bɔːlz/
plural of “ball” — round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading Euston was famed for the balls of my Lord Arlington in the days of Charles the Second, and times were little changed in that respect.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Euston was famed for the balls of my Lord Arlington in the days of Charles the Second, and times were little changed in that respect.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
collectedadjectiveUS /kəˈlektəd/
brought together in one place
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading In contrast to the courtly splendor, the heath was fringed with an encampment as gay and varied as any gypsy gathering.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
courtiersnounUS /ˈkɔːrtiərz/
plural of “courtier” — an attendant at the court of a sovereign
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
courtlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːrtli/
refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court
From this reading In contrast to the courtly splendor, the heath was fringed with an encampment as gay and varied as any gypsy gathering.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
decorousadjectiveUS /ˈdekərəs/
characterized by propriety and dignity and good taste in manners and conduct
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
dissoluteadjective
unrestrained by convention or morality
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
encampmentnounUS /ɪnˈkæmpmɪnt/
a site where people on holiday can pitch a tent
From this reading In contrast to the courtly splendor, the heath was fringed with an encampment as gay and varied as any gypsy gathering.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
Euston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Euston was famed for the balls of my Lord Arlington in the days of Charles the Second, and times were little changed in that respect.
communicated in words
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
famedadjectiveUS /feɪmd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading Euston was famed for the balls of my Lord Arlington in the days of Charles the Second, and times were little changed in that respect.
festivalnounUS /ˈfestəvəl/
a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
fineradjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnər/
(comparative of “fine”) greater in quality or excellence
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
frailadjectiveUS /freɪl/
physically weak
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
fringedadjective
surrounded as with a border or fringe; sometimes used in combination
From this reading In contrast to the courtly splendor, the heath was fringed with an encampment as gay and varied as any gypsy gathering.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading In contrast to the courtly splendor, the heath was fringed with an encampment as gay and varied as any gypsy gathering.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The king came to his summer palace, and the great lords kept up their state about him.
highest in quality
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
gypsynounUS /ˈdʒɪpsi/
a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment
From this reading In contrast to the courtly splendor, the heath was fringed with an encampment as gay and varied as any gypsy gathering.
heathnounUS /hiːθ/
a low evergreen shrub of the family Ericaceae; has small bell-shaped pink or purple flowers
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The king came to his summer palace, and the great lords kept up their state about him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading The king came to his summer palace, and the great lords kept up their state about him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading Euston was famed for the balls of my Lord Arlington in the days of Charles the Second, and times were little changed in that respect.
lordsnounUS /lɔːrdz/
plural of “lord” — terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading The king came to his summer palace, and the great lords kept up their state about him.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
the force of workers available
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Euston was famed for the balls of my Lord Arlington in the days of Charles the Second, and times were little changed in that respect.
NewmarketnounUS /ˈnuːmɑːrkət/
a long close-fitting coat worn for riding in the 19th century
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
not any; not one
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading The king came to his summer palace, and the great lords kept up their state about him.
prevailedverbUS /prɪˈveɪld/
past form of “prevail” — be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
race-course
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
RACESnounUS /ˈreɪsəz/
plural of “race” — any competition
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading Euston was famed for the balls of my Lord Arlington in the days of Charles the Second, and times were little changed in that respect.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
splendornounUS /ˈsplen.dər/
Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur and brilliance.
From this reading In contrast to the courtly splendor, the heath was fringed with an encampment as gay and varied as any gypsy gathering.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading The king came to his summer palace, and the great lords kept up their state about him.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The king came to his summer palace, and the great lords kept up their state about him.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The king came to his summer palace, and the great lords kept up their state about him.
in or at that place or location
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Euston was famed for the balls of my Lord Arlington in the days of Charles the Second, and times were little changed in that respect.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The king came to his summer palace, and the great lords kept up their state about him.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
create by training and teaching
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The king came to his summer palace, and the great lords kept up their state about him.
variedadjectiveUS /ˈverid/
characterized by variety
From this reading In contrast to the courtly splendor, the heath was fringed with an encampment as gay and varied as any gypsy gathering.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Euston was famed for the balls of my Lord Arlington in the days of Charles the Second, and times were little changed in that respect.
belonging to which person
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Charles the Second came there, with a train of gay and dissolute courtiers and fair, frail women; there too came the more solemn James with much the same following, if a more decorous manner prevailed, and there came that silent, collected, small man, whose body so little expressed his soul,—one of the greatest men of his time,—William the Third.
a late time of life
From this reading AT THE RACES THERE was no finer race-course in the country in those days than the long heath at Newmarket, and there for years the court of England kept festival.
