adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The interior of the theatre offered a very animated view.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
animatedadjectiveUS /ˈænəmeɪtɪd/
having life or vigor or spirit
From this reading The interior of the theatre offered a very animated view.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
attractedverbUS /əˈtræktɪd/
past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
audiencenounUS /ˈɑːdiəns/
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
bellnounUS /bel/
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
casenounUS /keɪs/
an occurrence of something
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
circlenounUS /ˈsɜːrkəl/
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
CURTAINnounUS /ˈkɜːrtən/
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading UP WITH THE CURTAIN.
dressverbUS /dres/
put on clothes
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/
a deliberate act of omission
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
filledadjectiveUS /fɪld/
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading The interior of the theatre offered a very animated view.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
ladiesnounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
numbernounUS /ˈnʌmbər/
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
occupiedadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪd/
held or filled or in use
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The interior of the theatre offered a very animated view.
offeredverbUS /ˈɔːfərd/
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading The interior of the theatre offered a very animated view.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
overturenounUS /ˈoʊvərtʃər/
orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
paidadjectiveUS /peɪd/
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
scenesnounUS /siːnz/
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
seatnounUS /siːt/
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
solemnitynounUS /səˈlemnəti/
a trait of dignified seriousness
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
soundedverbUS /ˈsaʊndɪd/
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
stage-boxes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UP WITH THE CURTAIN.
theatrenounUS /ˈθiːətər/
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading The interior of the theatre offered a very animated view.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
truthnounUS /truːθ/
a fact that has been verified
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading With the exception of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied.
UPadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading UP WITH THE CURTAIN.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading The interior of the theatre offered a very animated view.
viewnounUS /vjuː/
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading The interior of the theatre offered a very animated view.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it.
wildnessnounUS /ˈwaɪldnəs/
a feeling of extreme emotional intensity
From this reading A great number of very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes.
WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading UP WITH THE CURTAIN.
