used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
alluringadjectiveUS /əˈlʊrɪŋ/
highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Shop windows along the main street were gay with holly and scarlet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
arrayedadjectiveUS /ərˈeɪd/
in ceremonial attire and paraphernalia
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
Baileyville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Nothing was too mundane to be transformed by the holiday's magic into a thing mystic and unreal.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
CONGRESSnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/
the legislature of the United States government
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/
soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
discussedverbUS /dɪˈskʌst/
past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
displayedverbUS /dɪˈspleɪd/
past form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
embarrassedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəst/
feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
enticeverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪs/
provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
a social unit living together
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
flashingnounUS /ˈflæʃɪŋ/
a short vivid experience
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
garnishnounUS /ˈɡɑːrnɪʃ/
something (such as parsley) added to a dish for flavor or decoration
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading Shop windows along the main street were gay with holly and scarlet.
a long fixed look
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
hods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
holiday'snounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
possessive form of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Nothing was too mundane to be transformed by the holiday's magic into a thing mystic and unreal.
hollynounUS /ˈhɑːli/
any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex having red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges
From this reading Shop windows along the main street were gay with holly and scarlet.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Nothing was too mundane to be transformed by the holiday's magic into a thing mystic and unreal.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading Nothing was too mundane to be transformed by the holiday's magic into a thing mystic and unreal.
most important element
From this reading Shop windows along the main street were gay with holly and scarlet.
McGregors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
mundaneadjectiveUS /mənˈdeɪn/
found in the ordinary course of events
From this reading Nothing was too mundane to be transformed by the holiday's magic into a thing mystic and unreal.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
mysticadjectiveUS /ˈmɪstɪk/
having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding
From this reading Nothing was too mundane to be transformed by the holiday's magic into a thing mystic and unreal.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing was too mundane to be transformed by the holiday's magic into a thing mystic and unreal.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
pulsenounUS /pʌls/
(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
purchasersnounUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəsərz/
plural of “purchaser” — a person who buys
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
ribbonnounUS /ˈrɪbən/
any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading Shop windows along the main street were gay with holly and scarlet.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
do one's shopping
From this reading Shop windows along the main street were gay with holly and scarlet.
shroudedverbUS /ˈʃraʊdɪd/
past form of “shroud” — cover as if with a shroud
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
splendornounUS /ˈsplen.dər/
Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur and brilliance.
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Shop windows along the main street were gay with holly and scarlet.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
sunnyadjectiveUS /ˈsʌni/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
sweepersnounUS /ˈswiːpərz/
plural of “sweeper” — an employee who sweeps (floors or streets etc.)
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
teakettles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were Christmas carpet sweepers, Christmas teakettles, Christmas coal hods and how surprised and embarrassed they must have been to find themselves dragged out of their modest corners and, arrayed in splendor, set forth before the public gaze.
a special situation
From this reading Nothing was too mundane to be transformed by the holiday's magic into a thing mystic and unreal.
tinselverbUS /ˈtɪnsəl/
impart a cheap brightness to
From this reading Every alluring object was displayed to entice purchasers and such objects as were not alluring were made to appear so by a garnish of ribbon or flashing tinsel.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Nothing was too mundane to be transformed by the holiday's magic into a thing mystic and unreal.
transformedadjectiveUS /trænˈsfɔːrmd/
given a completely different form or appearance
From this reading Nothing was too mundane to be transformed by the holiday's magic into a thing mystic and unreal.
unrealadjectiveUS /ənˈriːl/
lacking in reality or substance or genuineness; not corresponding to acknowledged facts or criteria
From this reading Nothing was too mundane to be transformed by the holiday's magic into a thing mystic and unreal.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Shop windows along the main street were gay with holly and scarlet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
whitenessnounUS /ˈwaɪtnəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Shop windows along the main street were gay with holly and scarlet.
wintryadjectiveUS /ˈwɪntri/
characteristic of or occurring in winter
From this reading A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while the McGregors discussed cotton and the sunny southern fields in which it grew, Christmas was approaching and Baileyville, shrouded in wintry whiteness, began to feel the pulse of the coming holiday.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Shop windows along the main street were gay with holly and scarlet.
