used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
from appearances alone
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
a line of approach
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
bookcasesnounUS /ˈbʊkkeɪsɪz/
plural of “bookcase” — a piece of furniture with shelves for storing books
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
breast-highadverb
up to the breast
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
breastsnounUS /brests/
plural of “breast” — the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
lacking funds
From this reading No picture broke the simple unity of color.
bronzenounUS /brɑːnz/
an alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements; also any copper-base alloy containing other elements in place of tin
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
casingnounUS /ˈkeɪsɪŋ/
the housing or outer covering of something
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
centeredadjectiveUS /ˈsentərd/
being or placed in the center
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
a period of 100 years
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
coffered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading No picture broke the simple unity of color.
constructionnounUS /kənˈstrʌkʃən/
the act of constructing something
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
contemplationnounUS /ˌkɑːntəmˈpleɪʃən/
a long and thoughtful observation
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
destructionnounUS /dɪˈstrʌkʃən/
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
divined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
doubledadjectiveUS /ˈdʌbəld/
twice as great or many
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
FifthnounUS /fɪfθ/
a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
Gard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
GenoesenounUS /ˈdʒenoʊs/
a native or resident of Genoa
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
grotesqueadjectiveUS /ɡroʊˈtesk/
distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
inkwells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
a room where books are kept
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
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 The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
Marcus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
not any; not one
From this reading No picture broke the simple unity of color.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading No picture broke the simple unity of color.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
proximitynounUS /prɑːkˈsɪməti/
the property of being close together
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
raptadjectiveUS /ræpt/
feeling great rapture or delight
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
reconstructionnounUS /ˌriːkənˈstrʌkʃən/
the period after the American Civil War when the southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union; 1865-1877
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
schemesnounUS /skiːmz/
plural of “scheme” — an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
shapesnounUS /ʃeɪps/
plural of “shape” — any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading No picture broke the simple unity of color.
sixteenthadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːnθ/
coming next after the fifteenth in position
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
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 room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
not in physical motion
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
having come into contact
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
trebledverbUS /ˈtrebəld/
past form of “treble” — sing treble
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
twinnounUS /twɪn/
either of two offspring born at the same time from the same pregnancy
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools.
unitynounUS /ˈjuːnəti/
an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting
From this reading No picture broke the simple unity of color.
the topmost one of two
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
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, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But his thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast schemes of destruction and reconstruction.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The room was still, so quiet, in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its many windows.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the breast-high bookcases that lined the walls.
