used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
afternoonsnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːnz/
plural of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading THE autumn rains set in early that year.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading She was left very much to her own resources; her new relations rarely visited in bad weather.
bedsteadnoun
the framework of a bed
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
casementnoun
a window sash that is hinged (usually on one side)
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
chintznoun
a brightly printed and glazed cotton fabric
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
clogsnounUS /klɑːɡz/
plural of “clog” — footwear usually with wooden soles
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
dismallyadverbUS /ˈdɪzməli/
in a cheerless manner
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading THE autumn rains set in early that year.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
fluted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
hangingsnounUS /ˈhæŋɡɪŋz/
plural of “hanging” — decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE autumn rains set in early that year.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading She was left very much to her own resources; her new relations rarely visited in bad weather.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
maidservant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
become covered with mist
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She was left very much to her own resources; her new relations rarely visited in bad weather.
murmuringnounUS /ˈmɜːrmərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading She was left very much to her own resources; her new relations rarely visited in bad weather.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She was left very much to her own resources; her new relations rarely visited in bad weather.
Pamela
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
patternnounUS /ˈpætərn/
a perceptual structure
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
pipesnounUS /paɪps/
plural of “pipe” — a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
postsnounUS /poʊsts/
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
rainsnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading THE autumn rains set in early that year.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading She was left very much to her own resources; her new relations rarely visited in bad weather.
mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups
From this reading She was left very much to her own resources; her new relations rarely visited in bad weather.
resourcesnounUS /ˈriːsɔːrsɪz/
plural of “resource” — available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
From this reading She was left very much to her own resources; her new relations rarely visited in bad weather.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
move hurridly
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE autumn rains set in early that year.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
get rid of
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
soddenadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːdən/
wet through and through; thoroughly wet
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
soft-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
swishverbUS /swɪʃ/
move with or cause to move with a whistling or hissing sound
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE autumn rains set in early that year.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE autumn rains set in early that year.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was left very much to her own resources; her new relations rarely visited in bad weather.
tubsnounUS /tʌbz/
plural of “tub” — a relatively large open container that you fill with water and use to wash the body
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
precisely as stated
From this reading She was left very much to her own resources; her new relations rarely visited in bad weather.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading She was left very much to her own resources; her new relations rarely visited in bad weather.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading She was left very much to her own resources; her new relations rarely visited in bad weather.
at the time that
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She spent long afternoons in the drawing-room staring dismally out at the sodden fields and the hills beyond, which shed sad mist.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Every night when Pamela fell asleep in her bedstead with the fluted posts and hangings of chintz, having a fearful pattern of black roses, she heard the murmuring rush of rain down the pipes and into the soft-water tubs.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Every morning she was awakened by the swish of rain against the casement and the clatter of the maidservant’s clogs on the stones in the yard.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading THE autumn rains set in early that year.
