used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
altarnounUS /ˈɔːltər/
the table in Christian churches where communion is given
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The pews and galleries and walls were of unpainted fir, and the ceiling was whitewashed.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading The service had begun some time before the arrival of our friends.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Inside, this church was found to be exceedingly plain, but very clean.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The service had begun some time before the arrival of our friends.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The service had begun some time before the arrival of our friends.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Inside, this church was found to be exceedingly plain, but very clean.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
CatholicadjectiveUS /ˈkæθlɪk/
of or relating to or supporting Catholicism
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading The pews and galleries and walls were of unpainted fir, and the ceiling was whitewashed.
ceremonialnounUS /ˌserəˈmoʊniəl/
a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading It was a Lutheran church, and the ceremonial resembled that of the English Church in some respects, that of the Roman Catholic in others.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Inside, this church was found to be exceedingly plain, but very clean.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading Inside, this church was found to be exceedingly plain, but very clean.
crucifixnounUS /ˈkruːsəfɪks/
representation of the cross on which Jesus died
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
devoidadjectiveUS /dɪˈvɔɪd/
completely wanting or lacking
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading It was a Lutheran church, and the ceremonial resembled that of the English Church in some respects, that of the Roman Catholic in others.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
to an extreme degree
From this reading Inside, this church was found to be exceedingly plain, but very clean.
apart from; not including
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
firnounUS /fɜːr/
nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading The pews and galleries and walls were of unpainted fir, and the ceiling was whitewashed.
set up or found
From this reading Inside, this church was found to be exceedingly plain, but very clean.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The service had begun some time before the arrival of our friends.
galleriesnounUS /ˈɡæləriz/
plural of “gallery” — spectators at a golf or tennis match
From this reading The pews and galleries and walls were of unpainted fir, and the ceiling was whitewashed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The service had begun some time before the arrival of our friends.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Inside, this church was found to be exceedingly plain, but very clean.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a Lutheran church, and the ceremonial resembled that of the English Church in some respects, that of the Roman Catholic in others.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
LutheranadjectiveUS /ˈluːθərən/
of or pertaining to Martin Luther or his teachings
From this reading It was a Lutheran church, and the ceremonial resembled that of the English Church in some respects, that of the Roman Catholic in others.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The pews and galleries and walls were of unpainted fir, and the ceiling was whitewashed.
ornamentverbUS /ˈɔːrnəmənt/
make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a Lutheran church, and the ceremonial resembled that of the English Church in some respects, that of the Roman Catholic in others.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The service had begun some time before the arrival of our friends.
pewsnounUS /pjuːz/
plural of “pew” — long bench with backs; used in church by the congregation
From this reading The pews and galleries and walls were of unpainted fir, and the ceiling was whitewashed.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Inside, this church was found to be exceedingly plain, but very clean.
resembledverbUS /rɪˈzembəld/
past form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading It was a Lutheran church, and the ceremonial resembled that of the English Church in some respects, that of the Roman Catholic in others.
resemblingverbUS /rɪˈzembəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
respectsnounUS /rɪˈspekts/
(often used with “pay”) a formal expression of esteem
From this reading It was a Lutheran church, and the ceremonial resembled that of the English Church in some respects, that of the Roman Catholic in others.
RomanadjectiveUS /ˈroʊmən/
relating to or characteristic of people of Rome
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading The service had begun some time before the arrival of our friends.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The service had begun some time before the arrival of our friends.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a Lutheran church, and the ceremonial resembled that of the English Church in some respects, that of the Roman Catholic in others.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The pews and galleries and walls were of unpainted fir, and the ceiling was whitewashed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Inside, this church was found to be exceedingly plain, but very clean.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The service had begun some time before the arrival of our friends.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Inside, this church was found to be exceedingly plain, but very clean.
unpaintedadjectiveUS /ənˈpeɪntɪd/
not having makeup on
From this reading The pews and galleries and walls were of unpainted fir, and the ceiling was whitewashed.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
precisely as stated
From this reading Inside, this church was found to be exceedingly plain, but very clean.
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 The pews and galleries and walls were of unpainted fir, and the ceiling was whitewashed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Inside, this church was found to be exceedingly plain, but very clean.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The pews and galleries and walls were of unpainted fir, and the ceiling was whitewashed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
whitewashedadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪtwɑːʃt/
coated with whitewash
From this reading The pews and galleries and walls were of unpainted fir, and the ceiling was whitewashed.
love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol
From this reading The entire building was utterly devoid of ornament, except round the altar, above which there was a large crucifix and a few candles, and other things somewhat resembling those used in Roman Catholic worship.
