used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Surely a dear Theatre, then?
in the past
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
arrangementsnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənts/
plural of “arrangement” — the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
for the reason that
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
civilisedadjective
having a high state of culture and development both social and technological
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
dearly loved
From this reading Surely a dear Theatre, then?
entrance-prices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
fourpencenoun
a former English silver coin worth four pennies
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
gallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/
spectators at a golf or tennis match
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
half-a-crown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
half-a-guinea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
pitnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
pit-stalls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
shillingnounUS /ˈʃɪlɪŋ/
the basic unit of money in Uganda; equal to 100 cents
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
sixpencenoun
a small coin of the United Kingdom worth six pennies; not minted since 1970
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Surely a dear Theatre, then?
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading Surely a dear Theatre, then?
TheatresnounUS /ˈθiːətərz/
plural of “theatre” — a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Surely a dear Theatre, then?
in or at that place or location
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Surely, therefore, a dear Theatre?
three-pence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gallery at three-pence, another gallery at fourpence, a pit at sixpence, boxes and pit-stalls at a shilling, and a few private boxes at half-a-crown.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
precisely as stated
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
belonging to which person
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Because there were in London (not very long ago) Theatres with entrance-prices up to half-a-guinea a head, whose arrangements were not half so civilised.
