adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
attenuatedadjectiveUS /əˈtenjuːeɪtɪd/
of an electrical signal; reduced in amplitude with little or no distortion
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
awareadjectiveUS /əˈwer/
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
birdsnounUS /bɜːrdz/
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
butterflyverbUS /ˈbʌtərflaɪ/
flutter like a butterfly
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
coloursnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a distinguishing emblem
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
concealingnounUS /kənˈsiːlɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
deliriousadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪriəs/
experiencing delirium
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
depictedadjectiveUS /dɪˈpɪktəd/
represented graphically by sketch or design or lines
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
dividedadjectiveUS /dɪˈvaɪdɪd/
separated into parts or pieces
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
effectnounUS /ɪˈfekt/
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
enrichedverbUS /enˈrɪtʃt/
past form of “enrich” — make better or improve in quality
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
ExceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
fancynounUS /ˈfænsi/
something many people believe that is false
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
figuresnounUS /ˈfɪɡjərz/
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
flatadjectiveUS /flæt/
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
glazedadjectiveUS /ɡleɪzd/
(used of eyes) lacking liveliness
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
gracenounUS /ɡreɪs/
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How strange it seemed.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
intrusiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtruːsɪv/
tending to intrude (especially upon privacy)
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading How strange it seemed.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
laughedverbUS /læft/
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
panelsnounUS /ˈpænəlz/
plural of “panel” — sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
pilastersnounUS /pəˈlæstərz/
plural of “pilaster” — a rectangular column that usually projects about a third of its width from the wall to which it is attached
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
Pompeiian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/
possession of controlling influence
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
presentedverbUS /priˈzentɪd/
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
Rita
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
rotundanounUS /roʊˈtʌndə/
a building having a circular plan and a dome
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading How strange it seemed.
separatedadjectiveUS /ˈsepəreɪtɪd/
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
shopkeepernounUS /ˈʃɑːpkiːpər/
a merchant who owns or manages a shop
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
signnounUS /saɪn/
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
slenderadjectiveUS /ˈslendər/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
stealverbUS /stiːl/
take without the owner's consent
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading How strange it seemed.
strangelyadverbUS /ˈstreɪndʒli/
in a strange manner
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
supposedadjectiveUS /səˈpoʊzd/
required or under orders
From this reading The effect was supposed to be Pompeiian and Rita and I had often laughed at the delirious fancy of some enriched shopkeeper.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
unearthlyadjectiveUS /əˈnɜːrθli/
concerned with or affecting the spirit or soul
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/
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 Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I took my eyes from her face and became aware that dusk was beginning to steal into the room.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading But still it was a display of fancy, a sign of grace; but at that moment these figures appeared to me weird and intrusive and strangely alive in their attenuated grace of unearthly beings concealing a power to see and hear.
wingsnounUS /wɪŋz/
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
youthsnounUS /juːðz/
plural of “youth” — a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Except for the glazed rotunda part its long walls, divided into narrow panels separated by an order of flat pilasters, presented, depicted on a black background and in vivid colours, slender women with butterfly wings and lean youths with narrow birds’ wings.
