used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Arethusa had not the faintest idea what a "dinner-dance" might be.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
Arethusanoun
any of several bog orchids of the genus Arethusa having 1 or 2 showy flowers
From this reading Arethusa had not the faintest idea what a "dinner-dance" might be.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
awhileadverbUS /əˈwaɪl/
for a short time
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Arethusa had not the faintest idea what a "dinner-dance" might be.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
combinationnounUS /ˌkɑːmbəˈneɪʃən/
a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
compassed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
conceiveverbUS /kənˈsiːv/
have the idea for
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
conglomerationnounUS /kənˌɡlɑːmərˈeɪʃən/
a rounded spherical form
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
dinner-dance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Arethusa had not the faintest idea what a "dinner-dance" might be.
the act of consuming food
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
eludedverbUS /ɪˈluːdɪd/
past form of “elude” — escape, either physically or mentally
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
entertainmentsnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənts/
plural of “entertainment” — an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading But whatever the exact nature of it, it would be her Very First Party.
expeditionsnounUS /ˌekspəˈdɪʃənz/
plural of “expedition” — a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
faintestadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪntəst/
superlative of “faint” — deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Arethusa had not the faintest idea what a "dinner-dance" might be.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
gloriesnounUS /ˈɡlɔːriz/
plural of “glory” — a state of high honor
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Arethusa had not the faintest idea what a "dinner-dance" might be.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Arethusa had not the faintest idea what a "dinner-dance" might be.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But whatever the exact nature of it, it would be her Very First Party.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Arethusa had not the faintest idea what a "dinner-dance" might be.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading But whatever the exact nature of it, it would be her Very First Party.
easily agitated
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Arethusa had not the faintest idea what a "dinner-dance" might be.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
and nothing more
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading But whatever the exact nature of it, it would be her Very First Party.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
shatteringadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərɪŋ/
seemingly loud enough to break something; violently rattling or clattering
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
spend-the-days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Arethusa had not the faintest idea what a "dinner-dance" might be.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The only picture she could form for herself of such an entertainment was a strange conglomeration of eating and dancing; eating for awhile, and then dancing; and so on, first one and then the other, until time to go home.
precisely as stated
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading She knew very well what a dinner was, and she could conceive of the glories of a dance, but as a combination they eluded her.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Arethusa had not the faintest idea what a "dinner-dance" might be.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading But whatever the exact nature of it, it would be her Very First Party.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Hitherto, her expeditions into the social world had compassed nothing more shattering to her nervous system than church entertainments and occasional spend-the-days.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But whatever the exact nature of it, it would be her Very First Party.
