used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BIRTHDAY FEAST.
(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 There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
Bessie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
BIRTHDAYnounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading A BIRTHDAY FEAST.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading It was usually a brilliant day.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
at any time
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading A BIRTHDAY FEAST.
festivitiesnounUS /feˈstɪvətiz/
plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
gamesnounUS /ɡeɪmz/
plural of “game” — a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
hailverbUS /heɪl/
praise vociferously
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
IdanounUS /ˈaɪdə/
an agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
immemorialadjectiveUS /ˌɪməˈmɔːriəl/
long past; beyond the limits of memory or tradition or recorded history
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
juniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
modernizedadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdərnaɪzd/
brought up to date
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
and nothing more
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
Palliser's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
PanverbUS /pæn/
make a sweeping movement
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
concerned with religion or religious purposes
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
seventhadjectiveUS /ˈsevənθ/
coming next after the sixth and just before the eighth in position
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
under normal conditions
From this reading It was usually a brilliant day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
Wendover's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
Wendovers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Ida Palliser's holidays were coming to an end, like a tale that is told.
at the time that
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sad was it for Bessie and all the junior Wendovers when the seventh of September dawned with gray skies, or east winds, rain, or hail.
love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
a late time of life
From this reading There was only one day more left, but that day was to be especially glorious; for it was Bessie Wendover's birthday, a day which from time immemorial--or, at all events, ever since Bessie was ten years old--had been sacred to certain games or festivities--a modernized worship of the great god Pan.
