used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
alternatelyadverbUS /ˈɔːltərnətli/
in an alternating sequence or position
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an apartment vast in dimensions, lofty, dazzling, perfectly square, perfectly gorgeous, and more than perfectly uncomfortable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading It was an apartment vast in dimensions, lofty, dazzling, perfectly square, perfectly gorgeous, and more than perfectly uncomfortable.
subject to appointment
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
bricknounUS /brɪk/
rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
captivitynounUS /kæpˈtɪvəti/
the state of being imprisoned
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
From this reading It was an apartment vast in dimensions, lofty, dazzling, perfectly square, perfectly gorgeous, and more than perfectly uncomfortable.
dimensionsnounUS /dɪˈmenʃənz/
plural of “dimension” — the magnitude of something in a particular direction (especially length or width or height)
From this reading It was an apartment vast in dimensions, lofty, dazzling, perfectly square, perfectly gorgeous, and more than perfectly uncomfortable.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
DREAMTverbUS /drɛmt/
Experienced dreams during sleep.
From this reading ‘I DREAMT I DWELT IN MARBLE HALLS.’
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
DWELTverbUS /dwelt/
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading ‘I DREAMT I DWELT IN MARBLE HALLS.’
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
facingsnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋz/
plural of “facing” — a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
a social unit living together
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
gorgeousadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːrdʒəs/
dazzlingly beautiful
From this reading It was an apartment vast in dimensions, lofty, dazzling, perfectly square, perfectly gorgeous, and more than perfectly uncomfortable.
groanedverbUS /ɡroʊnd/
past form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
HALLSnounUS /hɔːlz/
plural of “hall” — an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading ‘I DREAMT I DWELT IN MARBLE HALLS.’
HelenanounUS /ˈhelənə/
capital of the state of Montana; located in western Montana
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
HugonounUS /ˈhjuːɡoʊ/
French poet and novelist and dramatist; leader of the romantic movement in France (1802-1885)
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘I DREAMT I DWELT IN MARBLE HALLS.’
imposingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
impressive in appearance
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ‘I DREAMT I DWELT IN MARBLE HALLS.’
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
loftyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfti/
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
From this reading It was an apartment vast in dimensions, lofty, dazzling, perfectly square, perfectly gorgeous, and more than perfectly uncomfortable.
Mallory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
mansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading ‘I DREAMT I DWELT IN MARBLE HALLS.’
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
mean-spiritedness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
the force of workers available
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was an apartment vast in dimensions, lofty, dazzling, perfectly square, perfectly gorgeous, and more than perfectly uncomfortable.
a form of address for a man
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading It was an apartment vast in dimensions, lofty, dazzling, perfectly square, perfectly gorgeous, and more than perfectly uncomfortable.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
residencenounUS /ˈrezɪdəns/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
selfishnessnounUS /ˈselfɪʃnəs/
stinginess resulting from a concern for your own welfare and a disregard of others
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
a male human offspring
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
Spenceley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
make square
From this reading It was an apartment vast in dimensions, lofty, dazzling, perfectly square, perfectly gorgeous, and more than perfectly uncomfortable.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was an apartment vast in dimensions, lofty, dazzling, perfectly square, perfectly gorgeous, and more than perfectly uncomfortable.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading It was an apartment vast in dimensions, lofty, dazzling, perfectly square, perfectly gorgeous, and more than perfectly uncomfortable.
usheredverbUS /ˈʌʃərd/
past form of “usher” — take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading It was an apartment vast in dimensions, lofty, dazzling, perfectly square, perfectly gorgeous, and more than perfectly uncomfortable.
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 It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On the appointed evening, Mrs. Mallory, her son, and Hugo, were driven to this mansion, and ushered into the drawing-room.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Castle Hill, the Spenceley mansion, was a large, new, imposing residence of red brick, with massive stone facings.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
a late time of life
From this reading It had been the dwelling of Mr. Spenceley and his family for some six or seven years, and it was within these walls that Helena sat in captivity, and groaned alternately over the selfishness of men and the mean-spiritedness of women.
