used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The room was absolutely bare and unfurnished.
adornedadjectiveUS /əˈdɔːrnd/
provided with something intended to increase its beauty or distinction
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There was nothing to give the least suggestion of romance, or the possibility of any concealed hiding-place.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
completely unclothed
From this reading The room was absolutely bare and unfurnished.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
bunchesnounUS /ˈbʌntʃəz/
plural of “bunch” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
Cicely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
not accessible to view
From this reading There was nothing to give the least suggestion of romance, or the possibility of any concealed hiding-place.
countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
cupboardnounUS /ˈkʌbərd/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading There was nothing to give the least suggestion of romance, or the possibility of any concealed hiding-place.
grapesnounUS /ɡreɪps/
plural of “grape” — any of various juicy fruit of the genus Vitis with green or purple skins; grow in clusters
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
hiding-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing to give the least suggestion of romance, or the possibility of any concealed hiding-place.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
jamverbUS /dʒæm/
press tightly together or cram
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading There was nothing to give the least suggestion of romance, or the possibility of any concealed hiding-place.
LindsaynounUS /ˈlɪndzi/
United States playwright who collaborated with Russel Crouse on several musicals (1889-1931)
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
of an obscure nature
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing to give the least suggestion of romance, or the possibility of any concealed hiding-place.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
overlookedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkt/
not taken into account
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
panelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading There was nothing to give the least suggestion of romance, or the possibility of any concealed hiding-place.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
on the contrary
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
a relationship between two lovers
From this reading There was nothing to give the least suggestion of romance, or the possibility of any concealed hiding-place.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was absolutely bare and unfurnished.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
rowsnounUS /roʊz/
plural of “row” — an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
an idea that is suggested
From this reading There was nothing to give the least suggestion of romance, or the possibility of any concealed hiding-place.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
unfurnishedadjective
not equipped with what is needed especially furniture
From this reading The room was absolutely bare and unfurnished.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
wallpapernounUS /ˈwɔːlpeɪpər/
a decorative paper for the walls of rooms
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The room was absolutely bare and unfurnished.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A Strong Suspicion If Lindsay and Cicely had counted upon finding something interesting behind the closed door, they were much disappointed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
whitewashedadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪtwɑːʃt/
coated with whitewash
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading At one side a window overlooked the garden, and at the other was a shallow store cupboard, the open door of which revealed rows of empty shelves, probably intended for jam or linen.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was not panelled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling.
