AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
casesnounUS /ˈkeɪsəz/
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
chairsnounUS /tʃerz/
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
changedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪndʒd/
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
cheerfulnessnounUS /ˈtʃɪrfəlnəs/
the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
clothesnounUS /kloʊðz/
clothing in general
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
colornounUS /ˈkʌlər/
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
comfortableadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading The room was unusually comfortable for a prairie homestead.
contentnounUS /ˈkɑːntent/
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Helen had put a meal on the table, and Festing sat down with a feeling that was half uneasiness and half content.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
deepadjectiveUS /diːp/
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
drawnadjectiveUS /drɔːn/
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
effortnounUS /ˈefərt/
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Helen had put a meal on the table, and Festing sat down with a feeling that was half uneasiness and half content.
Festing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The room was unusually comfortable for a prairie homestead.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Helen had put a meal on the table, and Festing sat down with a feeling that was half uneasiness and half content.
harmonizedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmənaɪzd/
involving or characterized by harmony
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
HELENnounUS /ˈhelən/
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
homesteadnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/
the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family
From this reading The room was unusually comfortable for a prairie homestead.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
lampnounUS /læmp/
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
MAKESnounUS /meɪks/
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
mealnounUS /miːl/
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Helen had put a meal on the table, and Festing sat down with a feeling that was half uneasiness and half content.
MISTAKEnounUS /mɪˈsteɪk/
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
paintedadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪntɪd/
coated with paint
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
picturesnounUS /ˈpɪktʃərz/
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading The room was unusually comfortable for a prairie homestead.
putverbUS /pʊt/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Helen had put a meal on the table, and Festing sat down with a feeling that was half uneasiness and half content.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was unusually comfortable for a prairie homestead.
rugsnounUS /rʌɡz/
plural of “rug” — floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Helen had put a meal on the table, and Festing sat down with a feeling that was half uneasiness and half content.
shadenounUS /ʃeɪd/
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
spreadverbUS /spred/
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
stainedadjectiveUS /steɪnd/
marked or dyed or discolored with foreign matter
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Helen had put a meal on the table, and Festing sat down with a feeling that was half uneasiness and half content.
talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Helen had put a meal on the table, and Festing sat down with a feeling that was half uneasiness and half content.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
threwverbUS /θruː/
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
uneasinessnounUS /ˌʌˈniːzinəs/
feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable
From this reading Helen had put a meal on the table, and Festing sat down with a feeling that was half uneasiness and half content.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading The room was unusually comfortable for a prairie homestead.
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 There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The room was unusually comfortable for a prairie homestead.
well-madeadjective
skillfully constructed
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in color with the big easy chairs.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading There were books in well-made cases, and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room with an effort at cheerfulness.
