Chapter XXX

giving or marked by complete attention to

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

gotten through environmental forces

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

later than; following

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

anew

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

plural of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading The face of the Madonna reminded him of someone he had known, but so vaguely that he made no attempt to capture the vague suggestion.

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

a person's social heritage: previous experience or training

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading The face of the Madonna reminded him of someone he had known, but so vaguely that he made no attempt to capture the vague suggestion.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

past form of “claim” — assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

the act of participating in the celebration of the Eucharist

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

without stop or interruption

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

-ing form of “devote” — give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

emanating from God

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

elaboration of an interpretation by the use of decorative (sometimes fictitious) detail

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

putting a condemned person to death

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

intense or sharp

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading The face of the Madonna reminded him of someone he had known, but so vaguely that he made no attempt to capture the vague suggestion.

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

gases ejected from an engine as waste products

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

American finch whose male has yellow body plumage in summer

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading The face of the Madonna reminded him of someone he had known, but so vaguely that he made no attempt to capture the vague suggestion.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

a midday meal

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The face of the Madonna reminded him of someone he had known, but so vaguely that he made no attempt to capture the vague suggestion.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

of an obscure nature

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

not any; not one

From this reading The face of the Madonna reminded him of someone he had known, but so vaguely that he made no attempt to capture the vague suggestion.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

plural of “painting” — graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

a distinctive odor that is pleasant

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

being undiluted or unmixed with extraneous material

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

Italian painter whose many paintings exemplify the ideals of the High Renaissance (1483-1520)

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

past form of “remind” — put in the mind of someone

From this reading The face of the Madonna reminded him of someone he had known, but so vaguely that he made no attempt to capture the vague suggestion.

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The face of the Madonna reminded him of someone he had known, but so vaguely that he made no attempt to capture the vague suggestion.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

a person, without saying who

From this reading The face of the Madonna reminded him of someone he had known, but so vaguely that he made no attempt to capture the vague suggestion.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

the season of growth

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

an idea that is suggested

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Other pictures claimed his attention, but he returned again and again to the "Cardellino," drawn by the exquisite purity of conception and execution that the divine Raphael must have acquired by some mysterious communion with angels.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading The face of the Madonna reminded him of someone he had known, but so vaguely that he made no attempt to capture the vague suggestion.

in a vague way

From this reading The face of the Madonna reminded him of someone he had known, but so vaguely that he made no attempt to capture the vague suggestion.

having or as if having a veil or concealing cover

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

plural of “violet” — any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

characteristic of a virgin or virginity

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading Angelescu had spent the morning in the Uffizi, devoting his visit to the three or four paintings he really liked.

past form of “waft” — be driven or carried along, as by the air

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Of these, the Madonna of the Goldfinch absorbed most of his time; the artless attitude of the children, the virginal grace of the Mother and the tender background with its suggestion of Florence in the distance, gave him the suggestion of the veiled delicacy of early spring, the faint perfume of early violets wafted from the slopes of Fiesole, the embroidery of almond-blossom against the sky.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The sweet Madonna-face continued to haunt him, and now as he lounged in his room, after luncheon, it floated before him wreathed in the pale blue fumes of his cigarette.