Chapter XI · The Fancy Dance

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

(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 The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading “What do you think _has_ happened and is going to happen?”

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Polly said, as they were laying the tables for lunch.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

plural of “brocade” — thick heavy expensive material with a raised pattern

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

dearly loved

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “What do you think _has_ happened and is going to happen?”

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

your parents

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Polly said, as they were laying the tables for lunch.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

usually; as a rule

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

the act of departing

From this reading “What do you think _has_ happened and is going to happen?”

a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

plural of “gown” — a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

come to pass

From this reading “What do you think _has_ happened and is going to happen?”

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading “What do you think _has_ happened and is going to happen?”

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “What do you think _has_ happened and is going to happen?”

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

transmit (knowledge or skills)

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “What do you think _has_ happened and is going to happen?”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems)

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

plural of “lace” — a cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment)

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

the production of eggs (especially in birds)

From this reading Polly said, as they were laying the tables for lunch.

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

take the midday meal

From this reading Polly said, as they were laying the tables for lunch.

past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

possessive form of “marsh” — low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

plural of “mull” — a term used in Scottish names of promontories

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

plain-woven cotton fabric

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

information about recent and important events

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

having a point

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Polly said, as they were laying the tables for lunch.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Polly said, as they were laying the tables for lunch.

a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

plural of “slipper” — low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

small cold-water silvery fish; migrate between salt and fresh water

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading Polly said, as they were laying the tables for lunch.

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Polly said, as they were laying the tables for lunch.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Polly said, as they were laying the tables for lunch.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading “What do you think _has_ happened and is going to happen?”

in spite of the fact that

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading “What do you think _has_ happened and is going to happen?”

hard to endure

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Polly said, as they were laying the tables for lunch.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “What do you think _has_ happened and is going to happen?”

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

a Caucasian

From this reading They had opened the old chest, she said, and it was full of brocades and laces and mulls, though she didn’t know what that was,—some kind of muslin, she believed,—and pongees and high-heeled, pointed slippers and jewelry and a fine white gown and piles of bed and table linen.

which person or people

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

in the company of; together with

From this reading Polly generally managed to know what was going on, and was bursting with her news, which she began to impart.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The gowns were spread out in Miss Marsh’s room and smelt like dead folks, and they were all in there screeching with delight, and telling what they meant to do, and trying the length of the gowns to see who they would fit, “and, oh, dear Suz, such times as we are going to have!

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “What do you think _has_ happened and is going to happen?”