adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The amphitheatre bent above the parquette its garland of diamonds, hair, gauze, and satin.
amphitheatrenounUS /ˈæmfəθiˈeɪtər/
a sloping gallery with seats for spectators (as in an operating room or theater)
From this reading The amphitheatre bent above the parquette its garland of diamonds, hair, gauze, and satin.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE RED LILY It was Friday, at the opera.
bareadjectiveUS /ber/
completely unclothed
From this reading The sombre drapery of the boxes framed the dazzling heads and bare shoulders of women.
bentnounUS /bent/
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The amphitheatre bent above the parquette its garland of diamonds, hair, gauze, and satin.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading The sombre drapery of the boxes framed the dazzling heads and bare shoulders of women.
curtainnounUS /ˈkɜːrtən/
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The curtain had fallen on Faust's laboratory.
dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
From this reading The sombre drapery of the boxes framed the dazzling heads and bare shoulders of women.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading The amphitheatre bent above the parquette its garland of diamonds, hair, gauze, and satin.
draperynounUS /ˈdreɪpəri/
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The sombre drapery of the boxes framed the dazzling heads and bare shoulders of women.
fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The curtain had fallen on Faust's laboratory.
Faust's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtain had fallen on Faust's laboratory.
framedadjectiveUS /freɪmd/
provided with a frame
From this reading The sombre drapery of the boxes framed the dazzling heads and bare shoulders of women.
FridaynounUS /ˈfraɪdi/
the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
From this reading THE RED LILY It was Friday, at the opera.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
garlandverbUS /ˈɡɑːrlənd/
adorn with bands of flowers or leaves
From this reading The amphitheatre bent above the parquette its garland of diamonds, hair, gauze, and satin.
gauzenounUS /ɡɔːz/
(medicine) bleached cotton cloth of plain weave used for bandages and dressings
From this reading The amphitheatre bent above the parquette its garland of diamonds, hair, gauze, and satin.
goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/
coins made of gold
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The curtain had fallen on Faust's laboratory.
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 The amphitheatre bent above the parquette its garland of diamonds, hair, gauze, and satin.
headsnounUS /hedz/
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The sombre drapery of the boxes framed the dazzling heads and bare shoulders of women.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE RED LILY It was Friday, at the opera.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The amphitheatre bent above the parquette its garland of diamonds, hair, gauze, and satin.
laboratorynounUS /ˈlæbrətɔːri/
a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
From this reading The curtain had fallen on Faust's laboratory.
LILYnounUS /ˈlɪli/
any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
From this reading THE RED LILY It was Friday, at the opera.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The curtain had fallen on Faust's laboratory.
operanounUS /ˈɑːprə/
a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes
From this reading THE RED LILY It was Friday, at the opera.
opera-glasses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
orchestranounUS /ˈɔːrkəstrə/
a musical organization consisting of a group of instrumentalists including string players
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
parquette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The amphitheatre bent above the parquette its garland of diamonds, hair, gauze, and satin.
purplenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəl/
a purple color or pigment
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
raisedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
REDnounUS /red/
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading THE RED LILY It was Friday, at the opera.
satinnounUS /ˈsætən/
a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back
From this reading The amphitheatre bent above the parquette its garland of diamonds, hair, gauze, and satin.
shouldersnounUS /ˈʃoʊldərz/
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading The sombre drapery of the boxes framed the dazzling heads and bare shoulders of women.
sombreadjective
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading The sombre drapery of the boxes framed the dazzling heads and bare shoulders of women.
surveyingnounUS /sərˈveɪɪŋ/
the practice of measuring angles and distances on the ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a map
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RED LILY It was Friday, at the opera.
theatrenounUS /ˈθiːətər/
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE RED LILY It was Friday, at the opera.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading From the orchestra, opera-glasses were raised in a surveying of the gold and purple theatre.
womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The sombre drapery of the boxes framed the dazzling heads and bare shoulders of women.
