used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
to or in a foreign country
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
academicadjectiveUS /ˌækəˈdemɪk/
associated with academia or an academy
From this reading Commencement Week was Mardi Gras for Mount Hadley in a refined, dignified, academic way.
anew
From this reading ANOTHER CASE I June had come again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So Commencement Week and especially Commencement Night was a gala time.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading ANOTHER CASE I June had come again.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
an occurrence of something
From this reading ANOTHER CASE I June had come again.
chieflyadverbUS /ˈtʃiːfli/
for the most part
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
college-preparatory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading ANOTHER CASE I June had come again.
CommencementnounUS /kəˈmensmənt/
the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
dignifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪɡnəfaɪd/
having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance
From this reading Commencement Week was Mardi Gras for Mount Hadley in a refined, dignified, academic way.
débutantes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
ElmsnounUS /elmz/
plural of “elm” — any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading So Commencement Week and especially Commencement Night was a gala time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Commencement Week was Mardi Gras for Mount Hadley in a refined, dignified, academic way.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
galanounUS /ˈɡælə/
a gay festivity
From this reading So Commencement Week and especially Commencement Night was a gala time.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
the act of departing
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
graduatesnounUS /ˈɡrædʒəwəts/
plural of “graduate” — a person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
graduatingverbUS /ˈɡrædʒəweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “graduate” — receive an academic degree upon completion of one's studies
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
Gras
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Commencement Week was Mardi Gras for Mount Hadley in a refined, dignified, academic way.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ANOTHER CASE I June had come again.
Hadley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Commencement Week was Mardi Gras for Mount Hadley in a refined, dignified, academic way.
the act of retaining something
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ANOTHER CASE I June had come again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Commencement Week was Mardi Gras for Mount Hadley in a refined, dignified, academic way.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading ANOTHER CASE I June had come again.
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 While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
Mardi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Commencement Week was Mardi Gras for Mount Hadley in a refined, dignified, academic way.
attach to a support
From this reading Commencement Week was Mardi Gras for Mount Hadley in a refined, dignified, academic way.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading So Commencement Week and especially Commencement Night was a gala time.
not any; not one
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
refinedadjectiveUS /rəˈfaɪnd/
(used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel
From this reading Commencement Week was Mardi Gras for Mount Hadley in a refined, dignified, academic way.
an educational institution
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
schoolingnounUS /ˈskuːlɪŋ/
the act of teaching at school
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So Commencement Week and especially Commencement Night was a gala time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading So Commencement Week and especially Commencement Night was a gala time.
twenty-fifthadjective
coming next after the twenty-fourth in position
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Commencement Week was Mardi Gras for Mount Hadley in a refined, dignified, academic way.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Commencement Week was Mardi Gras for Mount Hadley in a refined, dignified, academic way.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Commencement Week was Mardi Gras for Mount Hadley in a refined, dignified, academic way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A class of eighteen girls, graduating from The Elms, were holding Commencement on the twenty-fifth.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While The Elms was chiefly a college-preparatory school, many of its graduates were going abroad, becoming débutantes, receiving no further schooling.
