adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
AaronnounUS /ˈerən/
United States professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934)
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
Aaron'snounUS /ˈerənz/
possessive form of “aaron” — United States professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934)
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
AcrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Across, the dark green hills looked darker in the wet, the umbrella pines held up in vain above the villas.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
arrivalnounUS /ərˈaɪvəl/
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But away below, on the Lungarno, traffic rattled as ever.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading But away below, on the Lungarno, traffic rattled as ever.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
breadnounUS /bred/
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
brownnounUS /braʊn/
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But away below, on the Lungarno, traffic rattled as ever.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
DanishnounUS /ˈdeɪnɪʃ/
a Scandinavian language that is the official language of Denmark
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/
comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading Across, the dark green hills looked darker in the wet, the umbrella pines held up in vain above the villas.
darkishadjective
slightly dark
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
drinkingnounUS /ˈdrɪŋkɪŋ/
the act of consuming liquids
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
DutchadjectiveUS /dʌtʃ/
of or relating to the Netherlands or its people or culture
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
eatingnounUS /ˈiːtɪŋ/
the act of consuming food
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading But away below, on the Lungarno, traffic rattled as ever.
fallverbUS /fɔːl/
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
fivenounUS /faɪv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
floodnounUS /flʌd/
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
FlorencenounUS /ˈflɔːrəns/
a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
fuseverbUS /fjuːz/
mix together different elements
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
fusedadjectiveUS /fjuːzd/
joined together into a whole
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
greennounUS /ɡriːn/
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
groupnounUS /ɡruːp/
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Across, the dark green hills looked darker in the wet, the umbrella pines held up in vain above the villas.
herb-brew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
hillsnounUS /hɪlz/
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
hopedverbUS /hoʊpt/
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
jamverbUS /dʒæm/
press tightly together or cram
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Across, the dark green hills looked darker in the wet, the umbrella pines held up in vain above the villas.
Lungarno
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But away below, on the Lungarno, traffic rattled as ever.
many-threaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
mostlyadverbUS /ˈmoʊstli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But away below, on the Lungarno, traffic rattled as ever.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
paleadjectiveUS /peɪl/
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
peculiaradjectiveUS /pəˈkjuːljər/
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
pinesnounUS /paɪnz/
plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree
From this reading Across, the dark green hills looked darker in the wet, the umbrella pines held up in vain above the villas.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading But away below, on the Lungarno, traffic rattled as ever.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
smearnounUS /smɪr/
slanderous defamation
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
smearedverbUS /smɪrd/
past form of “smear” — stain by smearing or daubing with a dirty substance
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
steadilyadverbUS /ˈstedəli/
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
streamsnounUS /striːmz/
plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
surfacenounUS /ˈsɜːrfəs/
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
SwedesnounUS /swiːdz/
plural of “swede” — a native or inhabitant of Sweden
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
swiftlyadverbUS /ˈswɪftli/
in a swift manner
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
tastedverbUS /ˈteɪstɪd/
past form of “taste” — have flavor; taste of something
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
teanounUS /tiː/
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
thickadjectiveUS /θɪk/
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
trafficnounUS /ˈtræfɪk/
the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time
From this reading But away below, on the Lungarno, traffic rattled as ever.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
umbrellanounUS /əmˈbrelə/
a lightweight handheld collapsible canopy
From this reading Across, the dark green hills looked darker in the wet, the umbrella pines held up in vain above the villas.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Across, the dark green hills looked darker in the wet, the umbrella pines held up in vain above the villas.
vainadjectiveUS /veɪn/
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Across, the dark green hills looked darker in the wet, the umbrella pines held up in vain above the villas.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
villasnounUS /ˈvɪləz/
plural of “villa” — Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading Across, the dark green hills looked darker in the wet, the umbrella pines held up in vain above the villas.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
wetadjectiveUS /wet/
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading Across, the dark green hills looked darker in the wet, the umbrella pines held up in vain above the villas.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The very afternoon after Aaron's arrival in Florence the sky became dark, the wind cold, and rain began steadily to fall.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Aaron went down at five o'clock to tea, and found himself alone next a group of women, mostly Swedes or Danish or Dutch, drinking a peculiar brown herb-brew which tasted like nothing else on earth, and eating two thick bits of darkish bread smeared with a brown smear which hoped it was jam, but hoped in vain.
yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading He sat in his big, bleak room above the river, and watched the pale green water fused with yellow, the many-threaded streams fuse into one, as swiftly the surface flood came down from the hills.
