used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
(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 Without, all is fragrant and radiant; within, mouldy, dark, and damp.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nothing could be more perfectly paradisiacal than this evening at Sorrento.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
CAVALIERnounUS /ˌkævəˈlɪr/
a gallant or courtly gentleman
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nothing could be more perfectly paradisiacal than this evening at Sorrento.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading Without, all is fragrant and radiant; within, mouldy, dark, and damp.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Without, all is fragrant and radiant; within, mouldy, dark, and damp.
densnounUS /denz/
plural of “den” — the habitation of wild animals
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
diffusedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfjuːzd/
(of light rays) subjected to scattering by reflection from a rough surface or transmission through a translucent material
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Nothing could be more perfectly paradisiacal than this evening at Sorrento.
apart from; not including
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
fragrantadjectiveUS /ˈfreɪɡrənt/
pleasant-smelling
From this reading Without, all is fragrant and radiant; within, mouldy, dark, and damp.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
habitations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
in-doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
inquirernounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪrər/
someone who asks a question
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Without, all is fragrant and radiant; within, mouldy, dark, and damp.
a native or inhabitant of Italy
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
many-colored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
mouldyadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊldi/
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading Without, all is fragrant and radiant; within, mouldy, dark, and damp.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
out-doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
palacesnounUS /ˈpæləsəz/
plural of “palace” — a large and stately mansion
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
paradisiacaladjective
relating to or befitting Paradise
From this reading Nothing could be more perfectly paradisiacal than this evening at Sorrento.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Nothing could be more perfectly paradisiacal than this evening at Sorrento.
principallyadverbUS /ˈprɪnsɪpli/
for the most part
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/
the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
radiantadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdiːənt/
radiating or as if radiating light
From this reading Without, all is fragrant and radiant; within, mouldy, dark, and damp.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
Sorrento
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing could be more perfectly paradisiacal than this evening at Sorrento.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CAVALIER Nothing can be more striking, in common Italian life, than the contrast between out-doors and in-doors.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Nothing could be more perfectly paradisiacal than this evening at Sorrento.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
vibrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
vivaciousadjectiveUS /vəˈveɪʃəs/
vigorous and animated
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
well-keptadjective
kept in good condition
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The sun had sunk, but left the air full of diffused radiance, which trembled and vibrated over the thousand many-colored waves of the sea.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Except in the well-kept palaces of the great, houses in Italy are more like dens than habitations, and a sight of them is a sufficient reason to the mind of any inquirer, why their vivacious and handsome inhabitants spend their life principally in the open air.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Without, all is fragrant and radiant; within, mouldy, dark, and damp.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without, all is fragrant and radiant; within, mouldy, dark, and damp.
