Chapter VII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading No one in the harem had seen the room except old Sara, and she had plenty of tales to tell about its magnificence.

later than; following

From this reading But there was one special apartment that they all in turn had striven after and, in turn, had failed to attain.

(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 But there was one special apartment that they all in turn had striven after and, in turn, had failed to attain.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading But there was one special apartment that they all in turn had striven after and, in turn, had failed to attain.

position in which the dancer has one leg raised behind and arms outstretched in a conventional pose

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

to gain with effort

From this reading But there was one special apartment that they all in turn had striven after and, in turn, had failed to attain.

someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But there was one special apartment that they all in turn had striven after and, in turn, had failed to attain.

made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

the overhead upper surface of a covered space

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

a natural or artificial enclosed space

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

apart from; not including

From this reading No one in the harem had seen the room except old Sara, and she had plenty of tales to tell about its magnificence.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading But there was one special apartment that they all in turn had striven after and, in turn, had failed to attain.

having frets

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

usually; as a rule

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

light informal conversation for social occasions

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading But there was one special apartment that they all in turn had striven after and, in turn, had failed to attain.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female relatives in a Muslim household

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading No one in the harem had seen the room except old Sara, and she had plenty of tales to tell about its magnificence.

covered with beads or jewels or sequins

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

splendid or imposing in size or appearance

From this reading No one in the harem had seen the room except old Sara, and she had plenty of tales to tell about its magnificence.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

not any; not one

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading No one in the harem had seen the room except old Sara, and she had plenty of tales to tell about its magnificence.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

a large and stately mansion

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

a full supply

From this reading No one in the harem had seen the room except old Sara, and she had plenty of tales to tell about its magnificence.

more desirable than another

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

housing available for people to live in

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading No one in the harem had seen the room except old Sara, and she had plenty of tales to tell about its magnificence.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No one in the harem had seen the room except old Sara, and she had plenty of tales to tell about its magnificence.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading No one in the harem had seen the room except old Sara, and she had plenty of tales to tell about its magnificence.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading No one in the harem had seen the room except old Sara, and she had plenty of tales to tell about its magnificence.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading It was a big gilded chamber, with a ceiling like the sky on a desert night, and great golden, jewelled lamps.

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading But there was one special apartment that they all in turn had striven after and, in turn, had failed to attain.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort

From this reading But there was one special apartment that they all in turn had striven after and, in turn, had failed to attain.

plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading No one in the harem had seen the room except old Sara, and she had plenty of tales to tell about its magnificence.

express in words

From this reading No one in the harem had seen the room except old Sara, and she had plenty of tales to tell about its magnificence.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

in or at that place or location

From this reading But there was one special apartment that they all in turn had striven after and, in turn, had failed to attain.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

very small

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading But there was one special apartment that they all in turn had striven after and, in turn, had failed to attain.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading But there was one special apartment that they all in turn had striven after and, in turn, had failed to attain.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

in or at the place that

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The harem in the palace of El-Ammeh led into a large hall with carved doors and tiny arabesque windows, fretted and scrolled, with no one spot big enough to squeeze more than a hand through.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Generally speaking, the women of the harem preferred the large hall, where they could gossip among themselves and with their attendant women, to the little rooms that were their own private quarters.