used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Home in Versailles It was toward dusk.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
from appearances alone
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
the two together, not just one
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
the act of burning something
From this reading In a large, low grate inside a French drawing-room a freshly lighted fire was burning.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
combinationnounUS /ˌkɑːmbəˈneɪʃən/
a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
crepenounUS /kreɪp/
paper with a crinkled texture; usually colored and used for decorations
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
CurtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a large, low grate inside a French drawing-room a freshly lighted fire was burning.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
put on clothes
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading A Home in Versailles It was toward dusk.
start firing a weapon
From this reading In a large, low grate inside a French drawing-room a freshly lighted fire was burning.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading In a large, low grate inside a French drawing-room a freshly lighted fire was burning.
freshlyadverbUS /ˈfreʃli/
very recently
From this reading In a large, low grate inside a French drawing-room a freshly lighted fire was burning.
a young female
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading In a large, low grate inside a French drawing-room a freshly lighted fire was burning.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading A Home in Versailles It was toward dusk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A Home in Versailles It was toward dusk.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading In a large, low grate inside a French drawing-room a freshly lighted fire was burning.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A Home in Versailles It was toward dusk.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In a large, low grate inside a French drawing-room a freshly lighted fire was burning.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
set afire or burning
From this reading In a large, low grate inside a French drawing-room a freshly lighted fire was burning.
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 Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading In a large, low grate inside a French drawing-room a freshly lighted fire was burning.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
Recamier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading A Home in Versailles It was toward dusk.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
VersaillesnounUS /verˈsaɪ/
a city in north central France near Paris; site of the Palace of Versailles that was built by Louis XIV in the 17th century
From this reading A Home in Versailles It was toward dusk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A Home in Versailles It was toward dusk.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They were both apparently dressed for a late dinner, the girl in a costume of dull blue crepe, her companion in what appeared to be a combination of tea gown and dinner dress.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Curtains of heavy, dark red silk were closely drawn over the long windows.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Before the fire a young girl was seated in a chair beside a Madame Recamier couch upon which an older woman was lying.
