used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
alcovenounUS /ˈælkoʊv/
a small recess opening off a larger room
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
(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 His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading A man wearing a silken kaftan sat cross-legged among heaped cushions.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
archedadjectiveUS /ɑːrtʃt/
constructed with or in the form of an arch or arches
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
assailedverbUS /əˈseɪld/
past form of “assail” — attack someone physically or emotionally
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
cross-leggedadverb
with the legs crossed
From this reading A man wearing a silken kaftan sat cross-legged among heaped cushions.
cushionsnounUS /ˈkʊʃənz/
plural of “cushion” — a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading A man wearing a silken kaftan sat cross-legged among heaped cushions.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
divannounUS /dɪˈvæn/
a long backless sofa (usually with pillows against a wall)
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
exultationnoun
a feeling of extreme joy
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
FarrellnounUS /ˈferɪl/
United States writer remembered for his novels (1904-1979)
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading The room was long and narrow, and sweltering in a red glow of light.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
Hassan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
heapedverbUS /hiːpt/
past form of “heap” — bestow in large quantities
From this reading A man wearing a silken kaftan sat cross-legged among heaped cushions.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The room was long and narrow, and sweltering in a red glow of light.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
kaftannoun
a woman's dress style that imitates the caftan cloaks worn by men in the Near East
From this reading A man wearing a silken kaftan sat cross-legged among heaped cushions.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The room was long and narrow, and sweltering in a red glow of light.
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 The room was long and narrow, and sweltering in a red glow of light.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man wearing a silken kaftan sat cross-legged among heaped cushions.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
menacingadjectiveUS /ˈmenəsɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The room was long and narrow, and sweltering in a red glow of light.
necromancers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
PersiannounUS /ˈpɜːrʒən/
a native or inhabitant of Iran
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The room was long and narrow, and sweltering in a red glow of light.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was long and narrow, and sweltering in a red glow of light.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A man wearing a silken kaftan sat cross-legged among heaped cushions.
silkenadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlkən/
having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
From this reading A man wearing a silken kaftan sat cross-legged among heaped cushions.
slayernounUS /ˈsleɪər/
someone who causes the death of a person or animal
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
smolderingadjectiveUS /ˈsmoʊldərɪŋ/
showing scarcely suppressed anger
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
socketsnounUS /ˈsɑːkəts/
plural of “socket” — a bony hollow into which a structure fits
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
swelteringadjectiveUS /ˈsweltərɪŋ/
excessively hot and humid or marked by sweating and faintness
From this reading The room was long and narrow, and sweltering in a red glow of light.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
thrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading A Persian carpet ran down the center toward the divan in an arched alcove at the farther end.
veiledadjectiveUS /veɪld/
having or as if having a veil or concealing cover
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading A man wearing a silken kaftan sat cross-legged among heaped cushions.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His face was veiled, but his fierce eyes, smoldering in their deep sockets, were more menacing for being all that was visible.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A thrill of exultation was mingled with the flash of dread that assailed Farrell as he stepped into the reception hall of Hassan, that slayer of women and master of necromancers.
