used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
(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 She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Old maids, and mothers with unattractive daughters, were wont to call Gwendolen a heartless coquette.
nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading As for the coquetry, it was indefensible; as to the heart, young men held varying opinions with regard to that coveted article.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading The social atmosphere, charged with evanescent gayety, intoxicated her.
beesnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Old maids, and mothers with unattractive daughters, were wont to call Gwendolen a heartless coquette.
chargedadjectiveUS /tʃɑːrdʒd/
of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge
From this reading The social atmosphere, charged with evanescent gayety, intoxicated her.
coquetrynoun
playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest
From this reading As for the coquetry, it was indefensible; as to the heart, young men held varying opinions with regard to that coveted article.
coquettenoun
a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men
From this reading Old maids, and mothers with unattractive daughters, were wont to call Gwendolen a heartless coquette.
covetedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvətɪd/
greatly desired
From this reading As for the coquetry, it was indefensible; as to the heart, young men held varying opinions with regard to that coveted article.
plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading Old maids, and mothers with unattractive daughters, were wont to call Gwendolen a heartless coquette.
evanescentadjectiveUS /ˌevəˈnesənt/
tending to vanish like vapor
From this reading The social atmosphere, charged with evanescent gayety, intoxicated her.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
freedverbUS /friːd/
past form of “free” — grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
brought together in one place
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
gathersnounUS /ˈɡæðərz/
plural of “gather” — sewing consisting of small folds or puckers made by pulling tight a thread in a line of stitching
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
gayety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The social atmosphere, charged with evanescent gayety, intoxicated her.
golden-rod
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
Gwendolen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading As for the coquetry, it was indefensible; as to the heart, young men held varying opinions with regard to that coveted article.
heartlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrtləs/
lacking in feeling or pity or warmth
From this reading Old maids, and mothers with unattractive daughters, were wont to call Gwendolen a heartless coquette.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading As for the coquetry, it was indefensible; as to the heart, young men held varying opinions with regard to that coveted article.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The social atmosphere, charged with evanescent gayety, intoxicated her.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
hostess-ship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
indefensibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈfensəbəl/
(of theories etc) incapable of being defended or justified
From this reading As for the coquetry, it was indefensible; as to the heart, young men held varying opinions with regard to that coveted article.
insinuatingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪnjuːeɪtɪŋ/
calculated to please or gain favor
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
intoxicatedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtɑːksəkeɪtɪd/
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading The social atmosphere, charged with evanescent gayety, intoxicated her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As for the coquetry, it was indefensible; as to the heart, young men held varying opinions with regard to that coveted article.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
maidsnounUS /meɪdz/
plural of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading Old maids, and mothers with unattractive daughters, were wont to call Gwendolen a heartless coquette.
the force of workers available
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
mothersnounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Old maids, and mothers with unattractive daughters, were wont to call Gwendolen a heartless coquette.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
having official authority or sanction
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Old maids, and mothers with unattractive daughters, were wont to call Gwendolen a heartless coquette.
opinionsnounUS /əˈpɪnjənz/
plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading As for the coquetry, it was indefensible; as to the heart, young men held varying opinions with regard to that coveted article.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
provocativeadjectiveUS /proʊˈvɑːkətɪv/
serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate; stimulating discussion or exciting controversy
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading As for the coquetry, it was indefensible; as to the heart, young men held varying opinions with regard to that coveted article.
retortnounUS /ˈriːtɔːrt/
a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
scentedadjectiveUS /ˈsentɪd/
having the sense of smell
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading The social atmosphere, charged with evanescent gayety, intoxicated her.
spraynounUS /spreɪ/
a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As for the coquetry, it was indefensible; as to the heart, young men held varying opinions with regard to that coveted article.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
thralls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
unattractiveadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈtræktɪv/
lacking beauty or charm
From this reading Old maids, and mothers with unattractive daughters, were wont to call Gwendolen a heartless coquette.
varyingadjectiveUS /ˈveriɪŋ/
marked by diversity or difference
From this reading As for the coquetry, it was indefensible; as to the heart, young men held varying opinions with regard to that coveted article.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As for the coquetry, it was indefensible; as to the heart, young men held varying opinions with regard to that coveted article.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Old maids, and mothers with unattractive daughters, were wont to call Gwendolen a heartless coquette.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Old maids, and mothers with unattractive daughters, were wont to call Gwendolen a heartless coquette.
wittyadjectiveUS /ˈwɪti/
combining clever conception and facetious expression
From this reading She had a smile for all, a witty retort, or an insinuating whisper, followed by a provocative look.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading Old maids, and mothers with unattractive daughters, were wont to call Gwendolen a heartless coquette.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Gwendolen, freed from the thralls of official hostess-ship, gathered to herself young men in passage, as a spray of scented golden-rod gathers bees.
