used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IT was past eleven and they were languidly pecking at breakfast.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading IT was past eleven and they were languidly pecking at breakfast.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She lifted her cup and the ruffles fell back, showing finger-and-thumb bruises on the white flesh.
blotchyadjectiveUS /ˈblɑːttʃi/
marked with irregularly shaped spots or blots
From this reading She was sallow, blotchy, her eyes muddy and swollen.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading IT was past eleven and they were languidly pecking at breakfast.
brick-red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
bruisesnounUS /ˈbruːzəz/
plural of “bruise” — an injury that doesn't break the skin but results in some discoloration
From this reading She lifted her cup and the ruffles fell back, showing finger-and-thumb bruises on the white flesh.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
coppernounUS /ˈkɑːpər/
a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading She lifted her cup and the ruffles fell back, showing finger-and-thumb bruises on the white flesh.
darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/
comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
delftnounUS /delft/
a style of glazed earthenware; usually white with blue decoration
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
remove the dust from
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
elaboratelyadverbUS /ɪˈlæbrətli/
with elaboration
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
being one more than ten
From this reading IT was past eleven and they were languidly pecking at breakfast.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She was sallow, blotchy, her eyes muddy and swollen.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading She lifted her cup and the ruffles fell back, showing finger-and-thumb bruises on the white flesh.
finger-and-thumb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lifted her cup and the ruffles fell back, showing finger-and-thumb bruises on the white flesh.
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading She lifted her cup and the ruffles fell back, showing finger-and-thumb bruises on the white flesh.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
gorgeouslyadverb
in an impressively beautiful manner
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She lifted her cup and the ruffles fell back, showing finger-and-thumb bruises on the white flesh.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
housemaidnoun
a female domestic
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
interstices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was past eleven and they were languidly pecking at breakfast.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
languidlyadverb
in a languid and lethargic manner
From this reading IT was past eleven and they were languidly pecking at breakfast.
layernounUS /ˈleɪər/
single thickness of usually some homogeneous substance
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
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 The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
held up in the air
From this reading She lifted her cup and the ruffles fell back, showing finger-and-thumb bruises on the white flesh.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading She was sallow, blotchy, her eyes muddy and swollen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
Pamela's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading IT was past eleven and they were languidly pecking at breakfast.
peckingverbUS /ˈpekɪŋ/
-ing form of “peck” — hit lightly with a picking motion
From this reading IT was past eleven and they were languidly pecking at breakfast.
potsnounUS /pɑːts/
plural of “pot” — metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
primrosenounUS /ˈprɪmroʊz/
any of numerous short-stemmed plants of the genus Primula having tufted basal leaves and showy flowers clustered in umbels or heads
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
rimnounUS /rɪm/
the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
rufflesnounUS /ˈrʌfəlz/
plural of “ruffle” — a strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
sallowadjective
unhealthy looking
From this reading She was sallow, blotchy, her eyes muddy and swollen.
setteenoun
a long wooden bench with a back
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She lifted her cup and the ruffles fell back, showing finger-and-thumb bruises on the white flesh.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading She lifted her cup and the ruffles fell back, showing finger-and-thumb bruises on the white flesh.
sleevesnounUS /sliːvz/
plural of “sleeve” — the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
smutsnoun
South African statesman and soldier (1870-1950)
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading Pamela’s morning gown, of some clinging primrose stuff, had caught London smuts in the loose ruffles of its sleeves.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
swollenadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading She was sallow, blotchy, her eyes muddy and swollen.
tarnishverbUS /ˈtɑːrnɪʃ/
make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IT was past eleven and they were languidly pecking at breakfast.
upholsteredverbUS /əˈpoʊlstərd/
past form of “upholster” — provide furniture with padding, springs, webbing, and covers
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was past eleven and they were languidly pecking at breakfast.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading IT was past eleven and they were languidly pecking at breakfast.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The brick-red sun forced himself into the room, made the gorgeously upholstered settee and chairs look faded, showed the green tarnish on the great copper pots, the gray rim of dust on the delft which crowded the shelves, and the darker layer which the housemaid had left in the interstices of the elaborately carved furniture.
a Caucasian
From this reading She lifted her cup and the ruffles fell back, showing finger-and-thumb bruises on the white flesh.
