adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CONNOLLY The main dining-room of the Hotel Cosmopolis is a decorous place.
abstains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
Archie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
arrivalnounUS /ərˈaɪvəl/
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
artisticallyadverbUS /ɑːrˈtɪstɪkli/
in an artistic manner
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
calmverbUS /kɑːm/
make calm or still
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
carpetsnounUS /ˈkɑːrpəts/
plural of “carpet” — floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
CONNOLLYnounUS /ˈkɔːnəli/
United States tennis player who was the first woman to win the United States, British, French, and Australian championships in the same year (1953) (1934-1969)
From this reading CONNOLLY The main dining-room of the Hotel Cosmopolis is a decorous place.
Cosmopolis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONNOLLY The main dining-room of the Hotel Cosmopolis is a decorous place.
cyclonenounUS /sɪˈkloʊn/
(meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
decorousadjectiveUS /ˈdekərəs/
characterized by propriety and dignity and good taste in manners and conduct
From this reading CONNOLLY The main dining-room of the Hotel Cosmopolis is a decorous place.
dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading CONNOLLY The main dining-room of the Hotel Cosmopolis is a decorous place.
discourageverbUS /dɪˈskɜːrɪdʒ/
try to prevent; show opposition to
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
essaynounUS /eˈseɪ/
an analytic or interpretive literary composition
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
expensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspensɪv/
high in price or charging high prices
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
genuineadjectiveUS /ˈdʒenjəwən/
not fake or counterfeit
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
HotelnounUS /hoʊˈtel/
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading CONNOLLY The main dining-room of the Hotel Cosmopolis is a decorous place.
Huskisson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CONNOLLY The main dining-room of the Hotel Cosmopolis is a decorous place.
jazznounUS /dʒæz/
empty rhetoric or insincere or exaggerated talk
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
mainadjectiveUS /meɪn/
most important element
From this reading CONNOLLY The main dining-room of the Hotel Cosmopolis is a decorous place.
mediaevaladjective
relating to or belonging to the Middle Ages
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
MELTINGnounUS /ˈmeltɪŋ/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading THE MELTING OF MR.
MissverbUS /mɪs/
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
modernitynounUS /mɑːˈdɜːrnəti/
the quality of being current or of the present
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
MRnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE MELTING OF MR.
musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
oceannounUS /ˈoʊʃən/
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MELTING OF MR.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
orchestranounUS /ˈɔːrkəstrə/
a musical organization consisting of a group of instrumentalists including string players
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
pastnounUS /pæst/
the time that has elapsed
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading CONNOLLY The main dining-room of the Hotel Cosmopolis is a decorous place.
privilegedadjectiveUS /ˈprɪvlədʒd/
blessed with privileges
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
rehearsingverbUS /rɪˈhɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “rehearse” — engage in a rehearsal
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
riotousadjectiveUS /ˈraɪətəs/
produced or growing in extreme abundance
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
seemverbUS /siːm/
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
shimmerverbUS /ˈʃɪmər/
shine with a weak or fitful light
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
Soft-footedadjective
sound of quiet gentle steps
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
sortnounUS /sɔːrt/
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
tapestriesnounUS /ˈtæpəstriz/
plural of “tapestry” — something that resembles a tapestry in its intricacy
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MELTING OF MR.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
thickadjectiveUS /θɪk/
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
waitersnounUS /ˈweɪtərz/
plural of “waiter” — a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant)
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/
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 lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading To Archie, who during the past few days had been privileged to hear Miss Huskisson rehearsing, the place had a sort of brooding quiet, like the ocean just before the arrival of a cyclone.
whollyadverbUS /ˈhoʊli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Soft-footed waiters shimmer to and fro over thick, expensive carpets to the music of an orchestra which abstains wholly from the noisy modernity of jazz.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The lighting is artistically dim, and the genuine old tapestries on the walls seem, with their mediaeval calm, to discourage any essay in the riotous.
