18th
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
abodenounUS /əˈboʊd/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
adjustingverbUS /əˈdʒʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjust” — alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading The little city was alive with nobility and nobility's servants.
ancestrynounUS /ˈænsestri/
the descendants of one individual
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
avenuesnounUS /ˈævənuːz/
plural of “avenue” — a line of approach
From this reading The great park of Versailles, with its leafless bosquets, its bare avenues, its deadened terraces, its lifeless fountains, was forlorn enough.
completely unclothed
From this reading The great park of Versailles, with its leafless bosquets, its bare avenues, its deadened terraces, its lifeless fountains, was forlorn enough.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
cause to be bored
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
bosquets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The great park of Versailles, with its leafless bosquets, its bare avenues, its deadened terraces, its lifeless fountains, was forlorn enough.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But within the monster palace hard by everything hummed with preparation for the gayest of winters.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But within the monster palace hard by everything hummed with preparation for the gayest of winters.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The little city was alive with nobility and nobility's servants.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
dauphinnounUS /ˈdaʊfɪn/
formerly, the eldest son of the King of France and direct heir to the throne
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
deadenedadjective
devoid of physical sensation; numb
From this reading The great park of Versailles, with its leafless bosquets, its bare avenues, its deadened terraces, its lifeless fountains, was forlorn enough.
the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The great park of Versailles, with its leafless bosquets, its bare avenues, its deadened terraces, its lifeless fountains, was forlorn enough.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading But within the monster palace hard by everything hummed with preparation for the gayest of winters.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
forebearsnounUS /ˈfɔːrberz/
plural of “forebear” — a person from whom you are descended
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
forlornadjectiveUS /fərˈlɔːrn/
marked by or showing hopelessness
From this reading The great park of Versailles, with its leafless bosquets, its bare avenues, its deadened terraces, its lifeless fountains, was forlorn enough.
fountainsnounUS /ˈfaʊntənz/
plural of “fountain” — a structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises
From this reading The great park of Versailles, with its leafless bosquets, its bare avenues, its deadened terraces, its lifeless fountains, was forlorn enough.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
gayest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But within the monster palace hard by everything hummed with preparation for the gayest of winters.
generationsnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “generation” — all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The great park of Versailles, with its leafless bosquets, its bare avenues, its deadened terraces, its lifeless fountains, was forlorn enough.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading But within the monster palace hard by everything hummed with preparation for the gayest of winters.
helpingnounUS /ˈhelpɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
hummed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But within the monster palace hard by everything hummed with preparation for the gayest of winters.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/
having no leaves
From this reading The great park of Versailles, with its leafless bosquets, its bare avenues, its deadened terraces, its lifeless fountains, was forlorn enough.
lifelessadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪfləs/
deprived of life; no longer living
From this reading The great park of Versailles, with its leafless bosquets, its bare avenues, its deadened terraces, its lifeless fountains, was forlorn enough.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little city was alive with nobility and nobility's servants.
Majesties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
mantlenounUS /ˈmæntəl/
the cloak as a symbol of authority
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
monsternounUS /ˈmɑːnstər/
an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts
From this reading But within the monster palace hard by everything hummed with preparation for the gayest of winters.
nobilitynounUS /noʊˈbɪləti/
a privileged class holding hereditary titles
From this reading The little city was alive with nobility and nobility's servants.
nobility's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little city was alive with nobility and nobility's servants.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading The great park of Versailles, with its leafless bosquets, its bare avenues, its deadened terraces, its lifeless fountains, was forlorn enough.
a human being
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading But within the monster palace hard by everything hummed with preparation for the gayest of winters.
PresentationsnounUS /ˌprezənˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “presentation” — the activity of formally presenting something (as a prize or reward)
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The little city was alive with nobility and nobility's servants.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
suitesnounUS /swiːts/
plural of “suite” — a musical composition of several movements only loosely connected
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
terracesnounUS /ˈterəsəz/
plural of “terrace” — usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence
From this reading The great park of Versailles, with its leafless bosquets, its bare avenues, its deadened terraces, its lifeless fountains, was forlorn enough.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
VersaillesnounUS /verˈsaɪ/
a city in north central France near Paris; site of the Palace of Versailles that was built by Louis XIV in the 17th century
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The little city was alive with nobility and nobility's servants.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
belonging to which person
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
wignounUS /wɪɡ/
hairpiece covering the head and made of real or synthetic hair
From this reading Every fourth person one met bore with him, as a mantle of dignity, some fifteen generations of ancestry; and every third man with whom one came in contact was one whose forebears, for fifteen misty and not wholly glorious generations, had been accustomed to the honor of adjusting nobility's wig and helping him on with his coat.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
wintersnounUS /ˈwɪntərz/
plural of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading But within the monster palace hard by everything hummed with preparation for the gayest of winters.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The little city was alive with nobility and nobility's servants.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading But within the monster palace hard by everything hummed with preparation for the gayest of winters.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Two Presentations Upon the 18th of November their Majesties, the dauphin, the royal suites, and, in a word, the French Court, returned to Versailles and took up its abode in palace or town for the winter.
