adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Everything in it spoke of that dreary period in art, the middle years of the reign of Victoria the Good.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
buffetnounUS /ˈbʌfət/
a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
chairsnounUS /tʃerz/
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
Desmond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
DownadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
drapingverbUS /ˈdreɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “drape” — arrange in a particular way
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading Everything in it spoke of that dreary period in art, the middle years of the reign of Victoria the Good.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
engravingsnounUS /ɪnˈɡreɪvɪŋz/
plural of “engraving” — a print made from an engraving
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything in it spoke of that dreary period in art, the middle years of the reign of Victoria the Good.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
fly-blown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
GoodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Everything in it spoke of that dreary period in art, the middle years of the reign of Victoria the Good.
greennounUS /ɡriːn/
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
horsehairnoun
hair taken from the mane or tail of a horse
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Everything in it spoke of that dreary period in art, the middle years of the reign of Victoria the Good.
largestadjectiveUS /ˈlɑːrdʒəst/
superlative of “large” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
mahoganynounUS /məˈhɑːɡəni/
wood of any of various mahogany trees; much used for cabinetwork and furniture
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
middlenounUS /ˈmɪdəl/
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Everything in it spoke of that dreary period in art, the middle years of the reign of Victoria the Good.
mildewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
Nur-el-Din
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
pairsnounUS /perz/
plural of “pair” — a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
periodnounUS /ˈpɪriəd/
an amount of time
From this reading Everything in it spoke of that dreary period in art, the middle years of the reign of Victoria the Good.
placesnounUS /ˈpleɪsəz/
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
POLANDnounUS /ˈpoʊlənd/
a republic in central Europe; the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 started World War II
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
railwaynounUS /ˈreɪlweɪ/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
ranverbUS /ræn/
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
rednounUS /red/
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
reignverbUS /reɪn/
have sovereign power
From this reading Everything in it spoke of that dreary period in art, the middle years of the reign of Victoria the Good.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
shadenounUS /ʃeɪd/
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
sideboardnoun
a removable board fitted on the side of a wagon to increase its capacity
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
sizenounUS /saɪz/
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
spokenounUS /spoʊk/
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Everything in it spoke of that dreary period in art, the middle years of the reign of Victoria the Good.
STARnounUS /stɑːr/
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
stationnounUS /ˈsteɪʃən/
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
steelnounUS /stiːl/
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
tableclothnounUS /ˈteɪbəlklɔːθ/
a covering spread over a dining table
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Everything in it spoke of that dreary period in art, the middle years of the reign of Victoria the Good.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
uglyadjectiveUS /ˈʌɡli/
displeasing to the senses
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
upholsteredverbUS /əˈpoʊlstərd/
past form of “upholster” — provide furniture with padding, springs, webbing, and covers
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
VictorianounUS /vɪkˈtɔːriə/
queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)
From this reading Everything in it spoke of that dreary period in art, the middle years of the reign of Victoria the Good.
wallnounUS /wɔːl/
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 chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
wall-paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE STAR OF POLAND The room in which Desmond found Nur-el-Din was obviously the parlor of the house.
windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The wall-paper, much mildewed in places, was an ugly shade of green and there were dusty and faded red curtains at the windows and draping the fireplace.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Down one side of the room ran a hideous mahogany sideboard, almost as big as a railway station buffet, with a very dirty tablecloth.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading The chairs were of mahogany, upholstered in worn black horsehair and there were two pairs of fly-blown steel engravings of the largest size on the wall.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading Everything in it spoke of that dreary period in art, the middle years of the reign of Victoria the Good.
