used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
anew
From this reading He shut the door again quickly, as though he had seen Betty's ghost.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He shut the door again quickly, as though he had seen Betty's ghost.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
Barton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
bedchambernounUS /ˈbedtʃeɪmbər/
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
Betty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
boudoirnounUS /ˈbuːdɔɪr/
a lady's bedroom or private sitting room
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
Cecil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
cupboardnounUS /ˈkʌbərd/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
drabadjectiveUS /dræb/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
dustedverbUS /ˈdʌstɪd/
past form of “dust” — remove the dust from
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
flattenedadjectiveUS /ˈflætənd/
having been flattened
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading He shut the door again quickly, as though he had seen Betty's ghost.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
provoking horror
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
and nothing more
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
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 At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
for more time
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
markingnounUS /ˈmɑːrkɪŋ/
a distinguishing symbol
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
attach to a support
From this reading ON MOUNT PARNASSUS.
not any; not one
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON MOUNT PARNASSUS.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
PARNASSUSnounUS /ˌpɑːrˈnæsəs/
(Greek mythology) a mountain in central Greece where (according to Greek mythology) the Muses lived; known as the mythological home of music and poetry
From this reading ON MOUNT PARNASSUS.
photographsnounUS /ˈfoʊtəɡræfs/
plural of “photograph” — a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide or in digital format
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
with speed
From this reading He shut the door again quickly, as though he had seen Betty's ghost.
ReverendnounUS /ˈrevərənd/
a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He shut the door again quickly, as though he had seen Betty's ghost.
a particular situation
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading He shut the door again quickly, as though he had seen Betty's ghost.
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
squaresnounUS /skwerz/
plural of “square” — (geometry) a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles; a four-sided regular polygon
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
strayedverbUS /streɪd/
past form of “stray” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
possessing sweep
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He shut the door again quickly, as though he had seen Betty's ghost.
tidinessnoun
the habit of being tidy
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
tidyadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪdi/
marked by order and cleanliness in appearance or habits
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He opened the cupboard door: one or two faded skirts, a flattened garden hat and a pair of Betty's old shoes.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
wall-paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At Long Barton the Reverend Cecil had strayed into Betty's room, now no longer boudoir and bedchamber, but just a room, swept, dusted, tidy, with the horrible tidiness of a room that is not used.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading There were squares of bright yellow on the dull drab of the wall-paper, marking the old hanging places of the photographs and pictures that Betty had taken to Paris.
