used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Stalwart men stood about, picturesque in their embroidered tunics and voluminous mantles.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
bejeweled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
braziersnounUS /ˈbreɪʒərz/
plural of “brazier” — large metal container in which coal or charcoal is burned; warms people who must stay outside for long times
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
divans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
draperiesnounUS /ˈdreɪpəriz/
plural of “drapery” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
move gently or carefully
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
embroideredverbUS /emˈbrɔɪdərd/
past form of “embroider” — decorate with needlework
From this reading Stalwart men stood about, picturesque in their embroidered tunics and voluminous mantles.
erectedverbUS /ɪˈrektəd/
past form of “erect” — construct, build, or erect
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
fansnounUS /fænz/
plural of “fan” — a device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
featherverbUS /ˈfeðər/
join tongue and groove, in carpentry
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The Monday night party was in full swing.
garbedadjectiveUS /ɡɑːrbd/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
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 Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Monday night party was in full swing.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
lanternsnounUS /ˈlæntərnz/
plural of “lantern” — light in a transparent protective case
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
mantlesnounUS /ˈmæntəlz/
plural of “mantle” — the cloak as a symbol of authority
From this reading Stalwart men stood about, picturesque in their embroidered tunics and voluminous mantles.
the force of workers available
From this reading Stalwart men stood about, picturesque in their embroidered tunics and voluminous mantles.
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading The Monday night party was in full swing.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The Monday night party was in full swing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
OrientaladjectiveUS /ˌɔːriˈentəl/
denoting or characteristic of countries of the Far East
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The Monday night party was in full swing.
peacocknounUS /ˈpiːkɑːk/
European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading Stalwart men stood about, picturesque in their embroidered tunics and voluminous mantles.
pillowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
pottedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːtɪd/
of plants; planted or grown in a pot
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
RichlyadverbUS /ˈrɪtʃli/
to an ample degree or in an ample manner
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
splendournoun
a quality that outshines the usual
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
StalwartadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːlwərt/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading Stalwart men stood about, picturesque in their embroidered tunics and voluminous mantles.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Stalwart men stood about, picturesque in their embroidered tunics and voluminous mantles.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Heavy draperies, potted palms, strange braziers and lanterns, pillowed divans,—all formed a brilliant and interesting picture of an Eastern interior.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading The Monday night party was in full swing.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A stage had been erected and the spectacle that was seen as the curtain rose was of “more than Oriental splendour.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Monday night party was in full swing.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
tunics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stalwart men stood about, picturesque in their embroidered tunics and voluminous mantles.
voluminousadjectiveUS /vəˈluːmənəs/
large in volume or bulk
From this reading Stalwart men stood about, picturesque in their embroidered tunics and voluminous mantles.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Monday night party was in full swing.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Richly garbed ladies sat at ease while slaves waved peacock feather fans above their bejeweled heads.
