used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The orchestra in the gallery was nearly concealed behind a fringe of green.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air was sweetly odorous with the fragrance of southern blossoms.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Potted green palms stood everywhere at the sides.
ballroomnounUS /ˈbɔːlruːm/
large room used mainly for dancing
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The orchestra in the gallery was nearly concealed behind a fringe of green.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/
plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
From this reading The air was sweetly odorous with the fragrance of southern blossoms.
Clayton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
not accessible to view
From this reading The orchestra in the gallery was nearly concealed behind a fringe of green.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
crashedverbUS /kræʃt/
past form of “crash” — fall or come down violently
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Potted green palms stood everywhere at the sides.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
fragrancenounUS /ˈfreɪɡrəns/
a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading The air was sweetly odorous with the fragrance of southern blossoms.
fringenounUS /frɪndʒ/
the outside boundary or surface of something
From this reading The orchestra in the gallery was nearly concealed behind a fringe of green.
gallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/
spectators at a golf or tennis match
From this reading The orchestra in the gallery was nearly concealed behind a fringe of green.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Potted green palms stood everywhere at the sides.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The orchestra in the gallery was nearly concealed behind a fringe of green.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The orchestra in the gallery was nearly concealed behind a fringe of green.
odorousadjectiveUS /ˈoʊdərəs/
having odor or a characteristic odor
From this reading The air was sweetly odorous with the fragrance of southern blossoms.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
orchestranounUS /ˈɔːrkəstrə/
a musical organization consisting of a group of instrumentalists including string players
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading Potted green palms stood everywhere at the sides.
PottedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːtɪd/
of plants; planted or grown in a pot
From this reading Potted green palms stood everywhere at the sides.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Potted green palms stood everywhere at the sides.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The air was sweetly odorous with the fragrance of southern blossoms.
SPIDER'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Potted green palms stood everywhere at the sides.
sweetlyadverbUS /ˈswiːtli/
in an affectionate or loving manner (“sweet” is sometimes a poetic or informal variant of “sweetly”)
From this reading The air was sweetly odorous with the fragrance of southern blossoms.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
thirdsnounUS /θɜːrdz/
plural of “third” — one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
two-stepnoun
a ballroom dance in duple meter; marked by sliding steps
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
WEBnounUS /web/
an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into the first two-step.
(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 The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be with comfort.
