aboundsverbUS /əˈbaʊndz/
third-person singular of “abound” — be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
accountedverbUS /əˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “account” — be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
accustomedadjectiveUS /əˈkʌstəmd/
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
admirableadjectiveUS /ˈædmərəbəl/
deserving of the highest esteem or admiration
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
amazementnounUS /əˈmeɪzmənt/
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading The Baroness, quite bewildered, examined each work of art with the greatest amazement.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading The Baroness, quite bewildered, examined each work of art with the greatest amazement.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
BaronessnounUS /ˈberənɪs/
a noblewoman who holds the rank of baron or who is the wife or widow of a baron
From this reading The Baroness, quite bewildered, examined each work of art with the greatest amazement.
beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
bewilderedadjectiveUS /bɪˈwɪldərd/
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading The Baroness, quite bewildered, examined each work of art with the greatest amazement.
carpetsnounUS /ˈkɑːrpəts/
plural of “carpet” — floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
charmnounUS /tʃɑːrm/
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading Each thing had the novel charm of unique perfection.
creationnounUS /kriˈeɪʃən/
the human act of creating
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
cruciblenounUS /ˈkruːsəbəl/
a vessel made of material that does not melt easily; used for high temperature chemical reactions
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
devouringadjectiveUS /dɪˈvaʊərɪŋ/
(often followed by “for”) ardently or excessively desirous
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The Baroness, quite bewildered, examined each work of art with the greatest amazement.
EuropenounUS /ˈjʊrəp/
the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
examinedverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmənd/
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading The Baroness, quite bewildered, examined each work of art with the greatest amazement.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
fascinations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
feedverbUS /fiːd/
provide as food
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
flowersnounUS /ˈflaʊərz/
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
forlornadjectiveUS /fərˈlɔːrn/
marked by or showing hopelessness
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
fortunesnounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənz/
plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
gildingnounUS /ˈɡɪldɪŋ/
a coating of gold or of something that looks like gold
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
greatestadjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtəst/
highest in quality
From this reading The Baroness, quite bewildered, examined each work of art with the greatest amazement.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
HereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
imperialadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɪriəl/
relating to or associated with an empire
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
livedverbUS /lɪvd/
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
magnificencenoun
splendid or imposing in size or appearance
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
meltverbUS /melt/
reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
novelnounUS /ˈnɑːvəl/
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading Each thing had the novel charm of unique perfection.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Baroness, quite bewildered, examined each work of art with the greatest amazement.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
patternedadjectiveUS /ˈpætərnd/
having patterns (especially colorful patterns)
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/
the state of being without a flaw or defect
From this reading Each thing had the novel charm of unique perfection.
pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
possessverbUS /pəˈzes/
have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
powerfuladjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərfəl/
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
producesnounUS /prəˈduːsəz/
plural of “produce” — fresh fruits and vegetable grown for the market
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The Baroness, quite bewildered, examined each work of art with the greatest amazement.
relicsnounUS /ˈrelɪks/
plural of “relic” — an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
rubbedverbUS /rʌbd/
inflected form of “rub” — move over something with pressure
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
silksnounUS /sɪlks/
the brightly colored garments of a jockey; emblematic of the stable
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
studiedadjectiveUS /ˈstʌdid/
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
talentnounUS /ˈtælənt/
natural abilities or qualities
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Baroness, quite bewildered, examined each work of art with the greatest amazement.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading Each thing had the novel charm of unique perfection.
thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
treasuresnounUS /ˈtreʒərz/
plural of “treasure” — accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
twenty-sixadjective
being six more than twenty
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
understoodadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈstʊd/
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
uniqueadjectiveUS /juːˈniːk/
radically distinctive and without equal
From this reading Each thing had the novel charm of unique perfection.
unknownadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/
not known
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
vanitynounUS /ˈvænəti/
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
vicenounUS /vaɪs/
moral weakness
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Here she found fortunes accounted for that melt in the crucible under which pleasure and vanity feed the devouring flames.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
wishverbUS /wɪʃ/
hope for; have a wish
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Baroness, quite bewildered, examined each work of art with the greatest amazement.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The Baroness, quite bewildered, examined each work of art with the greatest amazement.
worksnounUS /wɜːrks/
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading It was impossible not to wish to possess these beautiful things, these admirable works of art, the creation of the unknown talent which abounds in Paris in our day and produces treasures for all Europe.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading This woman, who for twenty-six years had lived among the dead relics of imperial magnificence, whose eyes were accustomed to carpets patterned with faded flowers, rubbed gilding, silks as forlorn as her heart, half understood the powerful fascinations of vice as she studied its results.
