adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We sleep under a gauze mosquito-net of sombre greenish-blue, dark as the shades of night, stretched out on an orange-colored ribbon.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
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 Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
burnverbUS /bɜːrn/
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading My pillow, a Chinese model, is a kind of little square drum covered over with serpent-skin.
Chrysantheme's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
comesnounUS /kʌmz/
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/
soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading My pillow, a Chinese model, is a kind of little square drum covered over with serpent-skin.
cutverbUS /kʌt/
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading We sleep under a gauze mosquito-net of sombre greenish-blue, dark as the shades of night, stretched out on an orange-colored ribbon.
daylightnounUS /ˈdeɪlaɪt/
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
disturbingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
drumnounUS /drʌm/
a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading My pillow, a Chinese model, is a kind of little square drum covered over with serpent-skin.
elaborateadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæbrət/
marked by complexity and richness of detail
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
exactlyadverbUS /ɪɡˈzæktli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
fitverbUS /fɪt/
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
gauzenounUS /ɡɔːz/
(medicine) bleached cotton cloth of plain weave used for bandages and dressings
From this reading We sleep under a gauze mosquito-net of sombre greenish-blue, dark as the shades of night, stretched out on an orange-colored ribbon.
gildedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪldɪd/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
greenish-blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We sleep under a gauze mosquito-net of sombre greenish-blue, dark as the shades of night, stretched out on an orange-colored ribbon.
hairnounUS /her/
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 Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
hangingnounUS /ˈhæŋɪŋ/
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
head-dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
idolnounUS /ˈaɪdəl/
a material effigy that is worshipped
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading My pillow, a Chinese model, is a kind of little square drum covered over with serpent-skin.
laidadjectiveUS /leɪd/
set down according to a plan
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
mattingnounUS /ˈmætɪŋ/
a covering of coarse fabric (usually of straw or hemp)
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
mattressnounUS /ˈmætrəs/
a large thick pad filled with resilient material and often incorporating coiled springs, used as a bed or part of a bed
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
modelnounUS /ˈmɑːdəl/
a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading My pillow, a Chinese model, is a kind of little square drum covered over with serpent-skin.
mosquito-net
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We sleep under a gauze mosquito-net of sombre greenish-blue, dark as the shades of night, stretched out on an orange-colored ribbon.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My pillow, a Chinese model, is a kind of little square drum covered over with serpent-skin.
napenoun
the back side of the neck
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
NECESSARYadjectiveUS /ˈnesəseri/
absolutely essential
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
necknounUS /nek/
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
orange-coloredadjective
having the color of ripe oranges
From this reading We sleep under a gauze mosquito-net of sombre greenish-blue, dark as the shades of night, stretched out on an orange-colored ribbon.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
religiousadjectiveUS /rɪˈlɪdʒəs/
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
ribbonnounUS /ˈrɪbən/
any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading We sleep under a gauze mosquito-net of sombre greenish-blue, dark as the shades of night, stretched out on an orange-colored ribbon.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
serpent-skin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My pillow, a Chinese model, is a kind of little square drum covered over with serpent-skin.
shadesnounUS /ʃeɪdz/
(plural) something that reminds you of someone or something
From this reading We sleep under a gauze mosquito-net of sombre greenish-blue, dark as the shades of night, stretched out on an orange-colored ribbon.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
sleepnounUS /sliːp/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
sombreadjective
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading We sleep under a gauze mosquito-net of sombre greenish-blue, dark as the shades of night, stretched out on an orange-colored ribbon.
squareverbUS /skwer/
make square
From this reading My pillow, a Chinese model, is a kind of little square drum covered over with serpent-skin.
stretchedadjectiveUS /stretʃt/
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading We sleep under a gauze mosquito-net of sombre greenish-blue, dark as the shades of night, stretched out on an orange-colored ribbon.
symbolismnounUS /ˈsɪmbəlɪzəm/
a system of symbols and symbolic representations
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading We sleep under a gauze mosquito-net of sombre greenish-blue, dark as the shades of night, stretched out on an orange-colored ribbon.
undoneadjectiveUS /ənˈdʌn/
not done
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
unfoldedverbUS /ənˈfoʊldɪd/
past form of “unfold” — develop or come to a promising stage
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
VEILnounUS /veɪl/
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE NECESSARY VEIL When night comes on, we light two hanging lamps of religious symbolism, which burn till daylight, before our gilded idol.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading We sleep on the floor, on a thin cotton mattress, which is unfolded and laid out over our white matting.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading My pillow, a Chinese model, is a kind of little square drum covered over with serpent-skin.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
woodenadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdən/
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading Chrysantheme's pillow is a little wooden block, cut so as to fit exactly the nape of her neck, without disturbing the elaborate head-dress, which must never be taken down; the pretty black hair I shall probably never see undone.
