adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
arrayingverbUS /ərˈeɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “array” — lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Miss Hamilton's 'party' may not be gifted, but it is well-dressed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Miss Hamilton's 'party' may not be gifted, but it is well-dressed.
cardsnounUS /kɑːrdz/
a game played with playing cards
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
debutverbUS /deɪˈbjuː/
present for the first time to the public
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
deliverynounUS /dɪˈlɪvəri/
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
dependsverbUS /dɪˈpendz/
third-person singular of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading “Much depends upon the first impression,” she had said.
EdinburghnounUS /ˈedənbəroʊ/
the capital of Scotland; located in the Lothian Region on the south side of the Firth of Forth
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading “Much depends upon the first impression,” she had said.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
Francesca
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading My hope is that some of our future hostesses will be looking from the second-story front-windows.
front-windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My hope is that some of our future hostesses will be looking from the second-story front-windows.
futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/
yet to be or coming
From this reading My hope is that some of our future hostesses will be looking from the second-story front-windows.
giftedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪftəd/
endowed with talent or talents
From this reading “Miss Hamilton's 'party' may not be gifted, but it is well-dressed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
Hamilton'snounUS /ˈhæməltənz/
possessive form of “hamilton” — Irish mathematician (1806-1865)
From this reading “Miss Hamilton's 'party' may not be gifted, but it is well-dressed.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
hopenounUS /hoʊp/
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading My hope is that some of our future hostesses will be looking from the second-story front-windows.
hostessesnounUS /ˈhoʊstəsəz/
plural of “hostess” — a woman host
From this reading My hope is that some of our future hostesses will be looking from the second-story front-windows.
impressionnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃən/
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading “Much depends upon the first impression,” she had said.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
introductionnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/
the act of beginning something new
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
InvitationsnounUS /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “invitation” — a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Miss Hamilton's 'party' may not be gifted, but it is well-dressed.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/
the literary culture
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading My hope is that some of our future hostesses will be looking from the second-story front-windows.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “Miss Hamilton's 'party' may not be gifted, but it is well-dressed.
MissverbUS /mɪs/
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading “Miss Hamilton's 'party' may not be gifted, but it is well-dressed.
MuchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “Much depends upon the first impression,” she had said.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My hope is that some of our future hostesses will be looking from the second-story front-windows.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Miss Hamilton's 'party' may not be gifted, but it is well-dressed.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
orderingnounUS /ˈɔːrdərɪŋ/
logical or comprehensible arrangement of separate elements
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/
an organization to gain political power
From this reading “Miss Hamilton's 'party' may not be gifted, but it is well-dressed.
performverbUS /pərˈfɔːrm/
carry out or perform an action
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
privateadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪvət/
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
purplenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəl/
a purple color or pigment
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
purposenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəs/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Much depends upon the first impression,” she had said.
second-story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My hope is that some of our future hostesses will be looking from the second-story front-windows.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Much depends upon the first impression,” she had said.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading My hope is that some of our future hostesses will be looking from the second-story front-windows.
tasknounUS /tæsk/
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading My hope is that some of our future hostesses will be looking from the second-story front-windows.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
victorianounUS /vɪkˈtɔːriə/
queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
volunteeredverbUS /ˌvɑːlənˈtɪrd/
past form of “volunteer” — tell voluntarily
From this reading Francesca had volunteered to perform the task of leaving cards, ordering a private victoria for the purpose, and arraying herself in purple and fine linen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Invitations had been pouring in upon us since the delivery of our letters of introduction, and it was now the evening of our debut in Edinburgh society.
well-dressedadjective
having tasteful clothing and being scrupulously neat
From this reading “Miss Hamilton's 'party' may not be gifted, but it is well-dressed.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading My hope is that some of our future hostesses will be looking from the second-story front-windows.
