used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
completely unclothed
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
installation from which a military force initiates operations
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
blazedverbUS /bleɪzd/
past form of “blaze” — shine brightly and intensively
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
criss-crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
CRYPTOGRAMnoun
a piece of writing in code or cipher
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
DepositverbUS /dəˈpɑːzɪt/
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
domenounUS /doʊm/
a concave shape whose distinguishing characteristic is that the concavity faces downward
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
electrolier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
encasedadjectiveUS /enˈkeɪst/
covered or protected with or as if with a case
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
frameworknounUS /ˈfreɪmwɜːrk/
a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/
plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
ten 10s
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
marble-tiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
ornateadjectiveUS /ɔːrˈneɪt/
marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative details
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
pacedverbUS /peɪst/
past form of “pace” — walk with slow or fast paces
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
pedestalnounUS /ˈpedəstəl/
a support or foundation
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
semicirclenoun
a plane figure with the shape of half a circle
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
Spedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
suspendedadjectiveUS /səˈspendɪd/
(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
toweredverbUS /ˈtaʊərd/
past form of “tower” — appear very large or occupy a commanding position
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
unfurnishedadjective
not equipped with what is needed especially furniture
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
look attentively
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
