used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
Afanassievitch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading There stood a simple bed covered with a woollen counter.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
the act of burning something
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
captivenounUS /ˈkæptɪv/
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
contemporaryadjectiveUS /kənˈtempəreri/
characteristic of the present
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
counternounUS /ˈkaʊntər/
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading There stood a simple bed covered with a woollen counter.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading There stood a simple bed covered with a woollen counter.
dancing-masternoun
a professional teacher of dancing
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
devotingverbUS /dɪˈvoʊtɪŋ/
-ing form of “devote” — give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
dressing-gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
dulness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
firmly closed or secured
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
flutenounUS /fluːt/
a high-pitched woodwind instrument; a slender tube closed at one end with finger holes on one end and an opening near the closed end across which the breath is blown
From this reading The notes of a flute resounded through this humble mansion.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
Gavril
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
horsebacknounUS /ˈhɔːrsbæk/
the back of a horse
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading The notes of a flute resounded through this humble mansion.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
mansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading The notes of a flute resounded through this humble mansion.
marchesnounUS /ˈmɑːrtʃɪz/
a region in central Italy
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
nailsnounUS /neɪlz/
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
nankeennoun
a durable fabric formerly loomed by hand in China from natural cotton having a yellowish color
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
night-cap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading The notes of a flute resounded through this humble mansion.
occupantnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənt/
someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
relievingverbUS /rɪˈliːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “relieve” — provide physical relief, as from pain
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
representingverbUS /ˌreprɪˈzentɪŋ/
-ing form of “represent” — take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
resounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The notes of a flute resounded through this humble mansion.
precisely, exactly
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading There stood a simple bed covered with a woollen counter.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading There stood a simple bed covered with a woollen counter.
SwedenounUS /swiːd/
a native or inhabitant of Sweden
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
SwedishadjectiveUS /ˈswiːdɪʃ/
of or relating to or characteristic of Sweden or its people or culture or language
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There stood a simple bed covered with a woollen counter.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The notes of a flute resounded through this humble mansion.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
three-corneredadjective
having three corners
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The notes of a flute resounded through this humble mansion.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
undressverbUS /ənˈdres/
get undressed
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
vestibulenounUS /ˈvestɪbjuːl/
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
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 On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In front of the bed was a small deal table, on which a candle was burning, and some sheets of music lay.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading After devoting two whole hours to this exercise, the Swede took his flute to pieces, placed it in a box and began to undress....
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 In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
winter'snounUS /ˈwɪntərz/
possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The captive dancing-master, its lonely occupant in night-cap and nankeen dressing-gown, was relieving the dulness of a winter’s evening, by playing some old Swedish marches.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the house of Gavril Afanassievitch, to the right vestibule, was a narrow room with one window.
woollennounUS /ˈwʊlən/
a fabric made from the hair of sheep
From this reading There stood a simple bed covered with a woollen counter.
XIInoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading On the wall hung an old blue uniform and its contemporary, a three-cornered hat; above it, fastened by three nails hung a rude picture representing Charles XII. on horseback.
