used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
in addition
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
arm-chairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading He looked at the little room, and marked that nothing was changed since his last visit.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
chinanounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
comfortedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmfərtɪd/
made comfortable or more comfortable in a time of distress
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
crimsonadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmzən/
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
one or the other of two
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
EmpirenounUS /ˈempaɪər/
the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He looked at the little room, and marked that nothing was changed since his last visit.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
jamverbUS /dʒæm/
press tightly together or cram
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
l'Abbe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
immediately past
From this reading He looked at the little room, and marked that nothing was changed since his last visit.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked at the little room, and marked that nothing was changed since his last visit.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading He looked at the little room, and marked that nothing was changed since his last visit.
used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He looked at the little room, and marked that nothing was changed since his last visit.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
on one occasion
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
ornamentedverbUS /ˈɔːrnəmentɪd/
past form of “ornament” — make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
raspberrynounUS /ˈræzberi/
woody brambles bearing usually red but sometimes black or yellow fruits that separate from the receptacle when ripe and are rounder and smaller than blackberries
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
reednounUS /riːd/
tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He looked at the little room, and marked that nothing was changed since his last visit.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He looked at the little room, and marked that nothing was changed since his last visit.
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
a person, without saying who
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
stalksnounUS /stɔːks/
plural of “stalk” — material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
caught or fixed
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
up to a particular time
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
vasesnounUS /ˈveɪsəz/
plural of “vas” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading He looked at the little room, and marked that nothing was changed since his last visit.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were also two tall arm-chairs on either side of the chimney, which was ornamented by an Empire clock, and some china vases filled with sand, in which were stuck some dry stalks of reed.
at the time that
From this reading He was really comforted when the servant said that Monsieur l'Abbe was at home.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He entered a little drawing-room, and waited till the priest, whom he heard speaking to someone in the next chamber, was alone.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was still furnished with a velvet sofa, of which the red, once crimson, had become the faded rose colour of raspberry jam on bread.
