used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
agileadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəl/
moving quickly and lightly
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But little incense was being heaped on the shrine of luxury and pride.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
baptismnounUS /ˈbæptɪzəm/
a Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But little incense was being heaped on the shrine of luxury and pride.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The fire of fashion burnt low, smouldering and smoky beneath the lowering clouds.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
burntadjectiveUS /bɜːrnt/
ruined by overcooking
From this reading The fire of fashion burnt low, smouldering and smoky beneath the lowering clouds.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But little incense was being heaped on the shrine of luxury and pride.
a young person of either sex
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The fire of fashion burnt low, smouldering and smoky beneath the lowering clouds.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
increase twofold
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
divisible by two
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The fire of fashion burnt low, smouldering and smoky beneath the lowering clouds.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The fire of fashion burnt low, smouldering and smoky beneath the lowering clouds.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
heapedverbUS /hiːpt/
past form of “heap” — bestow in large quantities
From this reading But little incense was being heaped on the shrine of luxury and pride.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
incensenounUS /ˌɪnˈsens/
a substance that produces a fragrant odor when burned
From this reading But little incense was being heaped on the shrine of luxury and pride.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But little incense was being heaped on the shrine of luxury and pride.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The fire of fashion burnt low, smouldering and smoky beneath the lowering clouds.
loweringadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərɪŋ/
darkened by clouds
From this reading The fire of fashion burnt low, smouldering and smoky beneath the lowering clouds.
luxurynounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəri/
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading But little incense was being heaped on the shrine of luxury and pride.
Mayfair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But little incense was being heaped on the shrine of luxury and pride.
oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/
weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
pessimistnounUS /ˈpesəməst/
a person who expects the worst
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
precinctsnounUS /ˈpriːsɪŋkts/
plural of “precinct” — a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading But little incense was being heaped on the shrine of luxury and pride.
past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
concerned with religion or religious purposes
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
shrinenounUS /ʃraɪn/
a place of worship hallowed by association with some sacred thing or person
From this reading But little incense was being heaped on the shrine of luxury and pride.
smokyadjectiveUS /ˈsmoʊki/
marked by or emitting or filled with smoke
From this reading The fire of fashion burnt low, smouldering and smoky beneath the lowering clouds.
smoulderingadjective
showing scarcely suppressed anger
From this reading The fire of fashion burnt low, smouldering and smoky beneath the lowering clouds.
sombreadjective
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
third-born
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In the sombre days of December a double gloom settled down upon the sacred precincts of Mayfair.
under normal conditions
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But little incense was being heaped on the shrine of luxury and pride.
which person or people
From this reading Even Billy of Mayfair, who was usually as light of heart as he was agile of leg, felt the oppressive influence of things.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
the words that are spoken
From this reading His friend Joe had become an absolute pessimist for the time being, and even had high words with the wife of his bosom concerning the proposed baptism of his third-born child.
