adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
alterverbUS /ˈɔːltər/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
AnotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
ascribableadjective
capable of being assigned or credited to
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
brandynounUS /ˈbrændi/
distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
breedingnounUS /ˈbriːdɪŋ/
elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
Brüning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
caughtverbUS /kɑːt/
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
chairnounUS /tʃer/
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
cigar-smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
Clara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
colouradjectiveUS /ˈkʌlər/
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
cutverbUS /kʌt/
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
Davies's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/
recognizable; marked
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
disdainfuladjectiveUS /dɪsˈdeɪnfəl/
expressing extreme contempt
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
Dollmann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
dressverbUS /dres/
put on clothes
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
exuberantadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzuːbərənt/
joyously unrestrained
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
familiaritynounUS /fəˌmɪˈljerəti/
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
FinessenounUS /fɪˈnes/
subtly skillful handling of a situation
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
glassnounUS /ɡlæs/
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
hotadjectiveUS /hɑːt/
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
hotlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːtli/
in a heated manner
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
lacknounUS /læk/
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
liqueurnounUS /lɪˈkɜːr/
strong highly flavored sweet liquor usually drunk after a meal
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
lyingnounUS /ˈlaɪɪŋ/
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
man-servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
mingledverbUS /ˈmɪŋɡəld/
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
nostrilsnounUS /ˈnɑːstrəlz/
plural of “nostril” — either one of the two external openings to the nasal cavity in the nose
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
notableadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəbəl/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
noticedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəst/
being perceived or observed
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
perfumenounUS /pərˈfjuːm/
a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
precededverbUS /prɪˈsiːdɪd/
past form of “precede” — be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
pronouncedadjectiveUS /prəˈnaʊnst/
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
puttingnounUS /ˈpʌtɪŋ/
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
resentedverbUS /riˈzentɪd/
past form of “resent” — feel bitter or indignant about
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
risingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪzɪŋ/
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
scentnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
shoulderverbUS /ˈʃoʊldər/
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoʊkɪŋ/
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
sofanounUS /ˈsoʊfə/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
sourcenounUS /sɔːrs/
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
staringadjectiveUS /ˈsterɪŋ/
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
startverbUS /stɑːrt/
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
turningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
vis-à-vis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
von
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Finesse The door of a room on the ground floor was opened to us by a man-servant.
wavenounUS /weɪv/
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading As we entered the rattle of a piano stopped, and a hot wave of mingled scent and cigar-smoke struck my nostrils.
whollyadverbUS /ˈhoʊli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading She was in evening dress, pronounced in cut and colour; had a certain exuberant beauty, not wholly ascribable to nature, and a notable lack of breeding.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The first thing I noticed over Davies’s shoulder, as he preceded me into the room, was a woman—the source of the perfume I decided—turning round from the piano as he passed it and staring him up and down with a disdainful familiarity that I at once hotly resented.
yesnounUS /jes/
an affirmative
From this reading Another glance showed me Dollmann putting down a liqueur glass of brandy, and rising from a low chair with something of a start; and another, von Brüning, lying back in a corner of a sofa, smoking; on the same sofa, _vis-à-vis_ to him, was—yes, of course it was—Clara Dollmann; but how their surroundings alter people, I caught myself thinking.
