used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
acornnounUS /ˈeɪkɔːrn/
fruit of the oak tree: a smooth thin-walled nut in a woody cup-shaped base
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
anglesnounUS /ˈæŋɡəlz/
plural of “angle” — the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
atticsnounUS /ˈætɪks/
plural of “attic” — floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
bamboonounUS /bæmˈbuː/
the hard woody stems of bamboo plants; used in construction and crafts and fishing poles
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
capsnounUS /kæps/
plural of “cap” — a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
divisible by two
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading That was the first curtain pole that I put up.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
harderadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdər/
comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
and nothing more
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
a large number or amount
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
engage in
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
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 Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
not any; not one
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
nowadaysnounUS /ˈnaʊədeɪz/
the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
and nothing more
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
polenounUS /poʊl/
a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading That was the first curtain pole that I put up.
polesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
portieres
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
rollersnounUS /ˈroʊlərz/
plural of “roller” — a grounder that rolls along the infield
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
screwnounUS /skruː/
someone who guards prisoners
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
shadesnounUS /ʃeɪdz/
(plural) something that reminds you of someone or something
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
stainedadjectiveUS /steɪnd/
marked or dyed or discolored with foreign matter
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Even the acorn caps are not essential, for many of the most fashionable _portieres_ and curtain poles, nowadays, especially those of bamboo, have no caps at all on the ends: only then you put a screw in at right angles, to keep the end ring from coming off.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading That was the first curtain pole that I put up.
up-countryadverb
to or in the interior of a country or region
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
varnishedadjectiveUS /ˈvɑːrnɪʃt/
having a coating of stain or varnish
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
precisely as stated
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was the first curtain pole that I put up.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The next room I tried my hand on had a bay with three windows, and was harder to manage, but it did not cost very much after all.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There are few old houses in the country that would not give at least as much to work with as I had.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The old rollers on old-fashioned paper shades, such as you will find in lots of up-country attics, would make just as good poles stained and varnished.
