used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE OPERATING ROOM Walter's study seemed to Yetta an ideal room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading The rest of the room was made up of comfortable chairs, a well-padded window-seat, and books.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading The cases were full and so was the table and so were some of the chairs and there were books on the floor.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The rest of the room was made up of comfortable chairs, a well-padded window-seat, and books.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading The rest of the room was made up of comfortable chairs, a well-padded window-seat, and books.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
cow-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
decorationsnounUS /ˌdekərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “decoration” — something used to beautify
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
apart from; not including
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The cases were full and so was the table and so were some of the chairs and there were books on the floor.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The cases were full and so was the table and so were some of the chairs and there were books on the floor.
plural of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
grandparentsnounUS /ˈɡrændperənts/
plural of “grandparent” — a parent of your father or mother
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
Haktites
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading THE OPERATING ROOM Walter's study seemed to Yetta an ideal room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
luxurynounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəri/
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The rest of the room was made up of comfortable chairs, a well-padded window-seat, and books.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
OPERATINGadjectiveUS /ˈɑːpəreɪtɪŋ/
involved in a kind of operation
From this reading THE OPERATING ROOM Walter's study seemed to Yetta an ideal room.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
portraitsnounUS /ˈpɔːrtrəts/
plural of “portrait” — a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
remindverbUS /riˈmaɪnd/
put in the mind of someone
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
reproductionnounUS /ˌriːprəˈdʌkʃən/
the process of generating offspring
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The rest of the room was made up of comfortable chairs, a well-padded window-seat, and books.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE OPERATING ROOM Walter's study seemed to Yetta an ideal room.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE OPERATING ROOM Walter's study seemed to Yetta an ideal room.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The cases were full and so was the table and so were some of the chairs and there were books on the floor.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The cases were full and so was the table and so were some of the chairs and there were books on the floor.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading THE OPERATING ROOM Walter's study seemed to Yetta an ideal room.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The cases were full and so was the table and so were some of the chairs and there were books on the floor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OPERATING ROOM Walter's study seemed to Yetta an ideal room.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE OPERATING ROOM Walter's study seemed to Yetta an ideal room.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The rest of the room was made up of comfortable chairs, a well-padded window-seat, and books.
Walter'snounUS /ˈwɔːltərz/
possessive form of “walter” — German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading THE OPERATING ROOM Walter's study seemed to Yetta an ideal room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no appearance of luxury about it--nothing to remind one by contrast of the hungry people outside.
well-padded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rest of the room was made up of comfortable chairs, a well-padded window-seat, and books.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were no "decorations," except two portraits of his grandparents and a small reproduction of one of the great cow-faced gods of the Haktites which stood on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
window-seat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rest of the room was made up of comfortable chairs, a well-padded window-seat, and books.
Yetta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE OPERATING ROOM Walter's study seemed to Yetta an ideal room.
