used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
anew
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
bedsidenounUS /ˈbedsaɪd/
space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She did not stir, but she slept little.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
put or send forth
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
chandeliersnounUS /ˌʃændəˈlɪz/
plural of “chandelier” — branched lighting fixture; often ornate; hangs from the ceiling
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
cornicenoun
a decorative framework to conceal curtain fixtures at the top of a window casing
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
designsnounUS /dɪˈzaɪnz/
plural of “design” — the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not stir, but she slept little.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
drapedadjectiveUS /dreɪpt/
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
filmyadjective
so thin as to transmit light
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
flushnounUS /flʌʃ/
the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
indistinguishableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl/
exactly alike; incapable of being perceived as different
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
the act of departing
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She did not stir, but she slept little.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
Mariana
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
meltedadjectiveUS /ˈmeltəd/
changed from a solid to a liquid state
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She did not stir, but she slept little.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
outlinesnounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnz/
plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
pale-green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
poplarnounUS /ˈpɑːplər/
soft light-colored non-durable wood of the poplar
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
Ramsey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She did not stir, but she slept little.
siftingnounUS /ˈsɪftɪŋ/
the act of separating grain from chaff
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading She did not stir, but she slept little.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
spectraladjectiveUS /ˈspektrəl/
of or relating to a spectrum
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
move an implement through
From this reading She did not stir, but she slept little.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
tracingnounUS /ˈtreɪsɪŋ/
the act of drawing a plan or diagram or outline
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
at the time that
From this reading In the morning, when Miss Ramsey came to her bedside, there was a flush in her face and she appeared stronger than she had done since her illness.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The electric light, sifting through the filmy curtains at the windows, cast spectral shadows over the pale-green surface.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Through the long night Mariana lay with her hands clasped upon her breast and her eyes upon the ceiling.
wreathed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes the shadows, tracing the designs on the curtains, wreathed themselves into outlines of large poplar leaves and draped the chandeliers, and again they melted to indistinguishable dusk, leaving a vivid band of light around the cornice.
