used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading When at last the preliminaries are settled and the wedding day arrives, it is a very solemn and formal affair.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
arrivesverbUS /ərˈaɪvz/
third-person singular of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading When at last the preliminaries are settled and the wedding day arrives, it is a very solemn and formal affair.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When at last the preliminaries are settled and the wedding day arrives, it is a very solemn and formal affair.
bargainings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are usually long negotiations and bargainings between the two families over the dowry.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading There are usually long negotiations and bargainings between the two families over the dowry.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
castesnounUS /kæsts/
plural of “caste” — social status or position conferred by a system based on class
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
customsnounUS /ˈkʌstəmz/
money collected under a tariff
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading When at last the preliminaries are settled and the wedding day arrives, it is a very solemn and formal affair.
dowrynounUS /ˈdaʊri/
money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage
From this reading There are usually long negotiations and bargainings between the two families over the dowry.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
exclusionnounUS /ɪkˈskluːʒən/
the state of being excluded
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
existsverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪsts/
third-person singular of “exist” — have an existence, be extant
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
plural of “family” — a social unit living together
From this reading There are usually long negotiations and bargainings between the two families over the dowry.
a social unit living together
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
formalitiesnounUS /fɔːrˈmælətiz/
a requirement of etiquette or custom
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
formallyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrməli/
with official authorization
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
of the present time and place
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
immediately past
From this reading When at last the preliminaries are settled and the wedding day arrives, it is a very solemn and formal affair.
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 There are usually long negotiations and bargainings between the two families over the dowry.
for more time
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
marriagesnounUS /ˈmerɪdʒɪz/
plural of “marriage” — the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
come together
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
the force of workers available
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
negotiationsnounUS /nəˌɡoʊʃiˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “negotiation” — a discussion intended to produce an agreement
From this reading There are usually long negotiations and bargainings between the two families over the dowry.
not any; not one
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
and nothing more
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There are usually long negotiations and bargainings between the two families over the dowry.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
preliminariesnounUS /prɪˈlɪməneriz/
plural of “preliminary” — a minor match preceding the main event
From this reading When at last the preliminaries are settled and the wedding day arrives, it is a very solemn and formal affair.
proposalnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/
something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading A marriage is arranged formally; a formal proposal is made by the man's father or mother to the girl's father or mother.
pubertynounUS /ˈpjuːbərti/
the time of life when sex glands become functional
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading When at last the preliminaries are settled and the wedding day arrives, it is a very solemn and formal affair.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading When at last the preliminaries are settled and the wedding day arrives, it is a very solemn and formal affair.
required or under orders
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There are usually long negotiations and bargainings between the two families over the dowry.
under normal conditions
From this reading There are usually long negotiations and bargainings between the two families over the dowry.
precisely as stated
From this reading When at last the preliminaries are settled and the wedding day arrives, it is a very solemn and formal affair.
villagesnounUS /ˈvɪlədʒəz/
plural of “village” — a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading In towns and large villages there are, especially among people of the higher castes, many rigid customs and formalities regarding marriages always observed.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading When at last the preliminaries are settled and the wedding day arrives, it is a very solemn and formal affair.
at the time that
From this reading When at last the preliminaries are settled and the wedding day arrives, it is a very solemn and formal affair.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It is true that the exclusion of women no longer exists; but young girls after puberty are supposed to be kept within the house, and only to meet men of the immediate family.
