used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
basinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/
a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
Bibliotheque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
borderedadjectiveUS /ˈbɔːrdərd/
having a border especially of a specified kind; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.
put or send forth
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading The rehearsal had finished very late.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
fountainnounUS /ˈfaʊntən/
a structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises
From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
hangingsnounUS /ˈhæŋɡɪŋz/
plural of “hanging” — decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The rehearsal had finished very late.
laurelnounUS /ˈlɔːrəl/
any of various aromatic trees of the laurel family
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
little-frequented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
lustyadjectiveUS /ˈlʌsti/
vigorously passionate
From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.
meltingnounUS /ˈmeltɪŋ/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
Nationale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
nymphsnounUS /nɪmfs/
plural of “nymph” — (classical mythology) a minor nature goddess usually depicted as a beautiful maiden
From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
pathsnounUS /pæðz/
plural of “path” — a course of conduct
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
reassuringadjectiveUS /ˌriːəˈʃʊrɪŋ/
restoring confidence and relieving anxiety
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
rehearsalnounUS /rɪˈhɜːrsəl/
a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert)
From this reading The rehearsal had finished very late.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
sloweradverbUS /ˈsloʊər/
more slowly
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
spindlewood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
make square
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.
supportedadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪd/
sustained or maintained by aid (as distinct from physical support)
From this reading In the centre of the square stood the basin of a fountain, supported by lusty nymphs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
precisely as stated
From this reading The rehearsal had finished very late.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
at the time that
From this reading When they entered the room the night, already slower to arrive in this season of melting snow, was beginning to cast its gloom over the hangings.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the following day, he took her to a furnished room, commonplace but cheerful, which he had selected on the first floor of a house facing the square, near the Bibliotheque Nationale.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The paths, bordered with laurel and spindlewood, were deserted, and from this little-frequented spot one heard the vast and reassuring hum of the city.
