used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
alarmingadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
frightening because of an awareness of danger
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Small though the hall was, its darkness gave it space and depth.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading An old grandfather clock tick-tocked solemnly in the darkness.
clothsnounUS /klɔːθs/
plural of “cloth” — artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
colouredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
countriesnounUS /ˈkʌntriz/
plural of “country” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Small though the hall was, its darkness gave it space and depth.
depthnounUS /depθ/
the extent downward or backward or inward
From this reading Small though the hall was, its darkness gave it space and depth.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Small though the hall was, its darkness gave it space and depth.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
glimmered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading An old grandfather clock tick-tocked solemnly in the darkness.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Small though the hall was, its darkness gave it space and depth.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Small though the hall was, its darkness gave it space and depth.
JANET
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
provided with artificial light
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
MORELLI
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading An old grandfather clock tick-tocked solemnly in the darkness.
peoplesnounUS /ˈpiːpəlz/
the human beings of a particular nation or community or ethnic group
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
redlyadverb
displaying a red color
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
silksnounUS /sɪlks/
the brightly colored garments of a jockey; emblematic of the stable
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Small though the hall was, its darkness gave it space and depth.
solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːləmli/
in a grave and sedate manner
From this reading An old grandfather clock tick-tocked solemnly in the darkness.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Small though the hall was, its darkness gave it space and depth.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
stuffedadjectiveUS /stʌft/
filled with something
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Small though the hall was, its darkness gave it space and depth.
tick-tocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old grandfather clock tick-tocked solemnly in the darkness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
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 themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
weaponsnounUS /ˈwepənz/
plural of “weapon” — any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The walls themselves were of oak, and from this dark background these things gleamed and shone and twisted under the red light of the lamp in an alarming manner.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading It appeared to be hung with many strange and curious objects—weapons of various kinds, stuffed heads of wild animals, coloured silks and cloths of foreign countries and peoples.
in the company of; together with
From this reading SUPPER WITH JANET MORELLI The little hall was lit by a single lamp that glimmered redly in the background.
