used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Lady Lane-Johnson looked about her handsome drawing-room with critical gaze.
a quantity of money
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
Artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
Aubusson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
betokened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
bowlnounUS /boʊl/
a round vessel that is open at the top; used chiefly for holding food or liquids
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
brocade-hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
combinedadjectiveUS /kəmˈbaɪnd/
made or joined or united into one
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
consultedverbUS /kənˈsʌltəd/
past form of “consult” — get or ask advice from
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
costlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːstli/
entailing great loss or sacrifice
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading Lady Lane-Johnson looked about her handsome drawing-room with critical gaze.
crystalnounUS /ˈkrɪstəl/
a solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Lane-Johnson looked about her handsome drawing-room with critical gaze.
effectiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪv/
producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
elegantadjectiveUS /ˈeləɡənt/
refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
entailedverbUS /ɪnˈteɪld/
past form of “entail” — have as a logical consequence
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
examplesnounUS /ɪɡˈzæmpəlz/
plural of “example” — an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
Flint'snounUS /flɪnts/
possessive form of “flint” — a hard kind of stone; a form of silica more opaque than chalcedony
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
fragrantadjectiveUS /ˈfreɪɡrənt/
pleasant-smelling
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
a long fixed look
From this reading Lady Lane-Johnson looked about her handsome drawing-room with critical gaze.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading Lady Lane-Johnson looked about her handsome drawing-room with critical gaze.
harmonisedadjective
involving or characterized by harmony
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Lane-Johnson looked about her handsome drawing-room with critical gaze.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Lane-Johnson looked about her handsome drawing-room with critical gaze.
Lane-Johnson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Lane-Johnson looked about her handsome drawing-room with critical gaze.
liliesnounUS /ˈlɪliz/
plural of “lily” — any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Lady Lane-Johnson looked about her handsome drawing-room with critical gaze.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
loosenedadjectiveUS /ˈluːsənd/
straightened out
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
MadonnanounUS /məˈdɑːnə/
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
pairingnounUS /ˈperɪŋ/
the act of pairing a male and female for reproductive purposes
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
perfumenounUS /pərˈfjuːm/
a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
prosperitynounUS /prɑːˈsperəti/
an economic state of growth with rising profits and full employment
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
sheafnounUS /ʃiːf/
a package of several things tied together for carrying or storing
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
trafficnounUS /ˈtræfɪk/
the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading She consulted her list of expected guests; the pairing for this dinner party had entailed an unusual amount of consideration.
vasenounUS /veɪs/
an open jar of glass or porcelain used as an ornament or to hold flowers
From this reading She moved a bowl of roses to a more effective position, loosened a sheaf of Madonna lilies in a crystal vase.
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 The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
well-bredadjective
of good upbringing
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The atmosphere was fragrant with the perfume of costly flowers; the whole room betokened prosperity combined with good taste, from the excellent examples of modern Art on the brocade-hung walls to the Aubusson carpet and the silk curtains that subdued the sound of traffic through the open windows.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lady Lane-Johnson looked about her handsome drawing-room with critical gaze.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading And Philip Flint's sister harmonised with her surroundings, an elegant, well-bred looking woman in a Paris gown, diamonds in her hair, round her neck, at her breast.
