used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
daytimenounUS /ˈdeɪtaɪm/
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
Del
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
DonanounUS /ˈdoʊnə/
a Spanish courtesy title or form of address for a woman
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
duskyadjective
lighted by or as if by twilight
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
eventfuladjectiveUS /ɪˈventfəl/
full of events or incidents
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
start firing a weapon
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading After the gloom without, our welcome seemed perfect.
grapenounUS /ɡreɪp/
any of various juicy fruit of the genus Vitis with green or purple skins; grow in clusters
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
grotesqueadjectiveUS /ɡroʊˈtesk/
distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
holocaustnounUS /ˈhɑːləkɔːst/
an act of mass destruction and loss of life (especially in war or by fire)
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
a sacred place of pilgrimage
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/
a woman host
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
indigestionnounUS /ˌɪndaɪˈdʒestʃən/
a disorder of digestive function characterized by discomfort or heartburn or nausea
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
set afire or burning
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
in like or similar manner
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
living-roomnoun
a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
mercifullyadverbUS /ˈmɜːrsɪfəliː/
in a compassionate manner
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
mummiesnounUS /ˈmʌmiz/
plural of “mummy” — informal terms for a mother
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
PasadenanounUS /ˌpæsəˈdiːnər/
a city in southwestern California to the east of Los Angeles
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading After the gloom without, our welcome seemed perfect.
persistentlyadverbUS /pərˈsɪstəntli/
in a persistent manner
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
a safe place
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
ruddyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌdi/
inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
saintsnounUS /seɪnts/
plural of “saint” — a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading After the gloom without, our welcome seemed perfect.
serenelyadverbUS /sərˈiːnəli/
in a peacefully serene manner
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
undergo or be subjected to
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
throesnounUS /θroʊz/
violent pangs of suffering
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
unpretentiousadjectiveUS /ˌʌnpriˈtenʃəs/
lacking pretension or affectation
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
Valle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never before had the unpretentious home of the Dona Maria Del Valle appeared so complete a refuge as upon our return after the eventful day in Pasadena.
VirginnounUS /ˈvɜːrdʒɪn/
a person who has never had sex
From this reading Likewise, from her frame above the chimney shelf the little Spanish Virgin smiled serenely upon her holy Child.
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 ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
accept gladly
From this reading After the gloom without, our welcome seemed perfect.
which person or people
From this reading The ruddy flames from the fireplace, flickering against the dusky walls, had mercifully relieved the row of saints, who in the daytime appeared to suffer persistently the throes of indigestion.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading After the gloom without, our welcome seemed perfect.
writhedadjectiveUS /rɪθd/
twisted (especially as in pain or struggle)
From this reading In the living-room our kind hostess had lighted a fire of grotesque grape roots, that writhed like a holocaust of mummies.
