used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
arrangementnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənt/
the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading It was impossible to escape observing the artistic carelessness that had prevailed in the arrangement of the furniture.
artisticadjectiveUS /ɑːrˈtɪstɪk/
relating to or characteristic of art or artists
From this reading It was impossible to escape observing the artistic carelessness that had prevailed in the arrangement of the furniture.
BookcasesnounUS /ˈbʊkkeɪsɪz/
plural of “bookcase” — a piece of furniture with shelves for storing books
From this reading Bookcases lined the lower portion of each wall; then came pictures.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was not a large room, but the walls were covered with pictures of every sort.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Bookcases lined the lower portion of each wall; then came pictures.
carelessnessnounUS /ˈkerləsnəs/
the quality of not being careful or taking pains
From this reading It was impossible to escape observing the artistic carelessness that had prevailed in the arrangement of the furniture.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading It was not a large room, but the walls were covered with pictures of every sort.
curledadjectiveUS /kɜːrld/
(of hair) making curls or having been made to curl
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading The room was dim with smoke.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Bookcases lined the lower portion of each wall; then came pictures.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading It was impossible to escape observing the artistic carelessness that had prevailed in the arrangement of the furniture.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It was not a large room, but the walls were covered with pictures of every sort.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading It was impossible to escape observing the artistic carelessness that had prevailed in the arrangement of the furniture.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was impossible to escape observing the artistic carelessness that had prevailed in the arrangement of the furniture.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
heightenedverbUS /ˈhaɪtənd/
past form of “heighten” — become more extreme
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It was impossible to escape observing the artistic carelessness that had prevailed in the arrangement of the furniture.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was impossible to escape observing the artistic carelessness that had prevailed in the arrangement of the furniture.
incessantlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsesəntli/
with unflagging resolve
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not a large room, but the walls were covered with pictures of every sort.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was not a large room, but the walls were covered with pictures of every sort.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading Bookcases lined the lower portion of each wall; then came pictures.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading Bookcases lined the lower portion of each wall; then came pictures.
mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not a large room, but the walls were covered with pictures of every sort.
observingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception
From this reading It was impossible to escape observing the artistic carelessness that had prevailed in the arrangement of the furniture.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was not a large room, but the walls were covered with pictures of every sort.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Bookcases lined the lower portion of each wall; then came pictures.
prevailedverbUS /prɪˈveɪld/
past form of “prevail” — be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading It was impossible to escape observing the artistic carelessness that had prevailed in the arrangement of the furniture.
on the contrary
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was dim with smoke.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The room was dim with smoke.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading It was not a large room, but the walls were covered with pictures of every sort.
spoiltadjective
having the character or disposition harmed by pampering or oversolicitous attention
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The room was dim with smoke.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Bookcases lined the lower portion of each wall; then came pictures.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was impossible to escape observing the artistic carelessness that had prevailed in the arrangement of the furniture.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Through the faint veil that curled incessantly toward the ceiling the pictures on the wall took on a misty haze that heightened rather than spoilt their effect.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading It was not a large room, but the walls were covered with pictures of every sort.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The room was dim with smoke.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was not a large room, but the walls were covered with pictures of every sort.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The room was dim with smoke.
