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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.
affair
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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.
amountverbUS /əˈmaʊnt/
to reach or total a particular quantity or value
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.
annals
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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.
BALL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAME MELMOTTE'S BALL.
ball-giving
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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
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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.
certainly
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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.
character
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.
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.
declared
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.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
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.
expressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
February
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
fortnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
gambling
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.
give
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.
given
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.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
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.
intended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
MADAME
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAME MELMOTTE'S BALL.
magnificent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
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.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
money
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.
new
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.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
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.
night
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.
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.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
opinion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Parliament
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
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.
scale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
spent
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.
Square
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.
successful
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.
successfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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 /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
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.
transaction
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.
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.
