used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
any person at all
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
biddenverbUS /ˈbɪdɪn/
inflected form of “bid” — propose a payment
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
bride'snounUS /braɪdz/
possessive form of “bride” — a woman who has recently been married
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The shock was so sudden, so utterly unexpected by the majority of the people there.
charteredadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɑːrtərd/
hired for the exclusive temporary use of a group of travelers
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
comprehendverbUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhend/
get the meaning of something
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
festiveadjectiveUS /ˈfestɪv/
offering fun and gaiety
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
functionsnounUS /ˈfʌŋkʃənz/
plural of “function” — (mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)
From this reading This was one of the smart functions of the season.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
majoritynounUS /məˈdʒɔːrəti/
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
From this reading The shock was so sudden, so utterly unexpected by the majority of the people there.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This was one of the smart functions of the season.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The shock was so sudden, so utterly unexpected by the majority of the people there.
privilegedadjectiveUS /ˈprɪvlədʒd/
blessed with privileges
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
recurring again and again
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading This was one of the smart functions of the season.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading The shock was so sudden, so utterly unexpected by the majority of the people there.
smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading This was one of the smart functions of the season.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The shock was so sudden, so utterly unexpected by the majority of the people there.
speciallyadverbUS /ˈspeʃəli/
in a special manner
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The shock was so sudden, so utterly unexpected by the majority of the people there.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The shock was so sudden, so utterly unexpected by the majority of the people there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was one of the smart functions of the season.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
throngnounUS /θrɔːŋ/
a large gathering of people
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading The shock was so sudden, so utterly unexpected by the majority of the people there.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The shock was so sudden, so utterly unexpected by the majority of the people there.
Ventmore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The shock was so sudden, so utterly unexpected by the majority of the people there.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Of course nobody in that brilliant throng had the least idea of the bride's feelings in the matter, most of them were privileged guests for the reception.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had been bidden to a festive afternoon, a theatre had been specially chartered for the evening, with a dance to follow.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Mark Ventmore repeated his statement three times before anybody seemed to comprehend the dread meaning of his words.
