used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
highly skilled
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had the largest, loftiest and best ball-room in London.
any thing at all
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "As many flowers as possible," she was in the habit of saying; "but we must limit our guests."
ball-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had the largest, loftiest and best ball-room in London.
ballsnounUS /bɔːlz/
plural of “ball” — round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading She had the largest, loftiest and best ball-room in London.
cause to be bored
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "As many flowers as possible," she was in the habit of saying; "but we must limit our guests."
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
excelledverbUS /ɪkˈseld/
inflected form of “excel” — distinguish oneself
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading "As many flowers as possible," she was in the habit of saying; "but we must limit our guests."
the act of giving
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading "As many flowers as possible," she was in the habit of saying; "but we must limit our guests."
an established custom
From this reading "As many flowers as possible," she was in the habit of saying; "but we must limit our guests."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had the largest, loftiest and best ball-room in London.
Hexham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
largestadjectiveUS /ˈlɑːrdʒəst/
superlative of “large” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had the largest, loftiest and best ball-room in London.
limitnounUS /ˈlɪmət/
the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading "As many flowers as possible," she was in the habit of saying; "but we must limit our guests."
loftiest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had the largest, loftiest and best ball-room in London.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading She had the largest, loftiest and best ball-room in London.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading "As many flowers as possible," she was in the habit of saying; "but we must limit our guests."
used to form the superlative
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "As many flowers as possible," she was in the habit of saying; "but we must limit our guests."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It was never overcrowded.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "As many flowers as possible," she was in the habit of saying; "but we must limit our guests."
overcrowdedverbUS /ˈoʊvərkraʊdɪd/
past form of “overcrowd” — cause to crowd together too much
From this reading It was never overcrowded.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading "As many flowers as possible," she was in the habit of saying; "but we must limit our guests."
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading "As many flowers as possible," she was in the habit of saying; "but we must limit our guests."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading Weaving the Spell.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Weaving the Spell.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "As many flowers as possible," she was in the habit of saying; "but we must limit our guests."
WeavingnounUS /ˈwiːvɪŋ/
creating fabric
From this reading Weaving the Spell.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The Duchess of Hexham bore the reputation of being a most accomplished woman; if she excelled in anything it was certainly the giving of balls.
