used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I wandered about from room to room, never sated with the splendors around me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading I wandered about from room to room, never sated with the splendors around me.
arraynounUS /ərˈeɪ/
an orderly arrangement
From this reading Perhaps nothing, however, astonished me so much as the array of gold and silver plate in the dining-room.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading Perhaps nothing, however, astonished me so much as the array of gold and silver plate in the dining-room.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
centrepieces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
costlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːstli/
entailing great loss or sacrifice
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
cupsnounUS /kʌps/
plural of “cup” — a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading Perhaps nothing, however, astonished me so much as the array of gold and silver plate in the dining-room.
dinnersnounUS /ˈdɪnərz/
plural of “dinner” — the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
elegancenounUS /ˈeləɡəns/
a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
eventfuladjectiveUS /ɪˈventfəl/
full of events or incidents
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
every-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
faintestadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪntəst/
superlative of “faint” — deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I wandered about from room to room, never sated with the splendors around me.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
coins made of gold
From this reading Perhaps nothing, however, astonished me so much as the array of gold and silver plate in the dining-room.
gorgeousadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːrdʒəs/
dazzlingly beautiful
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
hangingsnounUS /ˈhæŋɡɪŋz/
plural of “hanging” — decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Perhaps nothing, however, astonished me so much as the array of gold and silver plate in the dining-room.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Perhaps nothing, however, astonished me so much as the array of gold and silver plate in the dining-room.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
immediately past
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
lustres
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Perhaps nothing, however, astonished me so much as the array of gold and silver plate in the dining-room.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I wandered about from room to room, never sated with the splendors around me.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Perhaps nothing, however, astonished me so much as the array of gold and silver plate in the dining-room.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
by chance
From this reading Perhaps nothing, however, astonished me so much as the array of gold and silver plate in the dining-room.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading Perhaps nothing, however, astonished me so much as the array of gold and silver plate in the dining-room.
pleasurableadjectiveUS /ˈpleʒərəbəl/
affording satisfaction or pleasure
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
richnessnounUS /ˈrɪtʃnəs/
the property of being extremely abundant
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I wandered about from room to room, never sated with the splendors around me.
salvers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
satedverbUS /ˈseɪtɪd/
past form of “sate” — fill to satisfaction
From this reading I wandered about from room to room, never sated with the splendors around me.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
sensationsnounUS /senˈseɪʃənz/
plural of “sensation” — an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
shieldsnounUS /ʃiːldz/
plural of “shield” — a protective covering or structure
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading Perhaps nothing, however, astonished me so much as the array of gold and silver plate in the dining-room.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
splendors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wandered about from room to room, never sated with the splendors around me.
surprisesnounUS /sərˈpraɪzɪz/
plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
up to a particular time
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I wandered about from room to room, never sated with the splendors around me.
uncoveredadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌvərd/
not covered with clothing
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
VenetiannounUS /vəˈniːʃən/
a resident of Venice
From this reading Till then I had not seen the gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those lustres of pure Venetian glass.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading I wandered about from room to room, never sated with the splendors around me.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Our every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields!
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I wandered about from room to room, never sated with the splendors around me.
produce a literary work
From this reading The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations and of pleasurable surprises.
