adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
affairnounUS /əˈfer/
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
amountnounUS /əˈmaʊnt/
a quantity of money
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
annalsnounUS /ˈænəlz/
reports of the work of a society or learned body etc
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
BALLnounUS /bɔːl/
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading MADAME MELMOTTE'S BALL.
ball-giving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
Beargarden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
characternounUS /ˈkerɪktər/
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
declaredadjectiveUS /dɪˈklerd/
made known or openly avowed
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
expressedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsprest/
communicated in words
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
gamblingnounUS /ˈɡæmbəlɪŋ/
the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
Grosvenor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
intendedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtendɪd/
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
MADAMEnounUS /ˈmædəm/
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading MADAME MELMOTTE'S BALL.
magnificentadjectiveUS /mæɡˈnɪfəsənt/
characterized by grandeur
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
MELMOTTE'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAME MELMOTTE'S BALL.
metverbUS /met/
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
opinionnounUS /əˈpɪnjən/
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
Others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
ParliamentnounUS /ˈpɑːrləmənt/
a legislative assembly in certain countries
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
scalenounUS /skeɪl/
an ordered reference standard
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
spentadjectiveUS /spent/
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
SquareverbUS /skwer/
make square
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
successfuladjectiveUS /səkˈsesfəl/
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
successfullyadverbUS /səkˈsesfəli/
with success; in a successful manner
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
talkedverbUS /tɔːkt/
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading It was a ball on a scale so magnificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliament met, now about a fortnight since.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February.
transactionnounUS /trænˈzækʃən/
the act of transacting within or between groups (as carrying on commercial activities)
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The next night but one after that of the gambling transaction at the Beargarden, a great ball was given in Grosvenor Square.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would make this affair something quite new in the annals of ball-giving,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful.
