Chapter III

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading The drawing-room in which he awaited the American maiden who had taken his attenuated fancy was large and sumptuous and very expensive.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

plural of “article” — nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

of an electrical signal; reduced in amplitude with little or no distortion

From this reading The drawing-room in which he awaited the American maiden who had taken his attenuated fancy was large and sumptuous and very expensive.

expected hopefully

From this reading The drawing-room in which he awaited the American maiden who had taken his attenuated fancy was large and sumptuous and very expensive.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

plural of “cabinet” — a piece of furniture resembling a cupboard with doors and shelves and drawers; for storage or display

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

plural of “cameo” — engraving or carving in low relief on a stone (as in a brooch or ring)

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

a game played with playing cards

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

a timepiece that shows the time of day

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

plural of “collection” — several things grouped together or considered as a whole

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

something used to beautify

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

a British peer of the highest rank

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

high in price or charging high prices

From this reading The drawing-room in which he awaited the American maiden who had taken his attenuated fancy was large and sumptuous and very expensive.

large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

something many people believe that is false

From this reading The drawing-room in which he awaited the American maiden who had taken his attenuated fancy was large and sumptuous and very expensive.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

a man employed as a servant in a large establishment (as a palace) to run errands and do chores

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

past form of “fresco” — paint onto wet plaster on a wall

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The drawing-room in which he awaited the American maiden who had taken his attenuated fancy was large and sumptuous and very expensive.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

adorned by inlays

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The drawing-room in which he awaited the American maiden who had taken his attenuated fancy was large and sumptuous and very expensive.

an azure blue semiprecious stone

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)

From this reading The drawing-room in which he awaited the American maiden who had taken his attenuated fancy was large and sumptuous and very expensive.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

plural of “miniature” — painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

brass that looks like gold; used to decorate furniture

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

a person who is of equal standing with another in a group

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

not in physical motion

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

ostentatiously rich and superior in quality

From this reading The drawing-room in which he awaited the American maiden who had taken his attenuated fancy was large and sumptuous and very expensive.

plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

status with respect to the relations between people or groups

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

the act of going from one place to another

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

plural of “travel” — the act of going from one place to another

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-six and one

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading A FOOTMAN had taken the Duke of Bosworth’s cards up to Miss Mabel Creighton and her mother.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

precisely as stated

From this reading The drawing-room in which he awaited the American maiden who had taken his attenuated fancy was large and sumptuous and very expensive.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading The walls were frescoed by a famous hand, and there were lamps and candle-brackets and various articles of decoration which must have been picked up in extensive travels.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

accept gladly

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The drawing-room in which he awaited the American maiden who had taken his attenuated fancy was large and sumptuous and very expensive.

which person or people

From this reading The drawing-room in which he awaited the American maiden who had taken his attenuated fancy was large and sumptuous and very expensive.

in the company of; together with

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading There were tables of ormolu, and cabinets of tortoise-shell containing collections of cameos, fens and miniatures, a _lapis lazuli_ clock three feet high, and a piano inlaid with twenty-seven different woods.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading The young man had arrived but an hour before and still wore his travelling gear, but had been given to understand that an English peer was welcome in a New York drawing-room on any terms.