Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading He found in the vast drawing-room five people who had the air of being at home and intimate together.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading And he did not quite recover his aplomb until the dinner was nearly finished.

great coolness and composure under strain

From this reading And he did not quite recover his aplomb until the dinner was nearly finished.

-ing form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading George had made the mistake of arriving last.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He found in the vast drawing-room five people who had the air of being at home and intimate together.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading He found in the vast drawing-room five people who had the air of being at home and intimate together.

past form of “blaze” — shine brightly and intensively

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

the appearance conveyed by a person's face

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

although something is true; in spite of

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading And he did not quite recover his aplomb until the dinner was nearly finished.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading And he did not quite recover his aplomb until the dinner was nearly finished.

plural of “disposition” — your usual mood

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He found in the vast drawing-room five people who had the air of being at home and intimate together.

using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

hard white substance covering the crown of a tooth

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

past form of “ennoble” — confer dignity or honor upon

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state

From this reading And he did not quite recover his aplomb until the dinner was nearly finished.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading He found in the vast drawing-room five people who had the air of being at home and intimate together.

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

set up or found

From this reading He found in the vast drawing-room five people who had the air of being at home and intimate together.

furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

destroyed or killed

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading He found in the vast drawing-room five people who had the air of being at home and intimate together.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity

From this reading He found in the vast drawing-room five people who had the air of being at home and intimate together.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

immediately past

From this reading George had made the mistake of arriving last.

raise from a lower to a higher position

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

appealing to the emotions as well as the eye

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading George had made the mistake of arriving last.

characterized by grandeur

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

plural of “metal” — any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading George had made the mistake of arriving last.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading And he did not quite recover his aplomb until the dinner was nearly finished.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading And he did not quite recover his aplomb until the dinner was nearly finished.

do away with

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

so strong as to be irresistible

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading He found in the vast drawing-room five people who had the air of being at home and intimate together.

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

the property of being smooth and shiny

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

inflected form of “purify” — remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

plural of “quantity” — how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading And he did not quite recover his aplomb until the dinner was nearly finished.

get or find back; recover the use of

From this reading And he did not quite recover his aplomb until the dinner was nearly finished.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

a quality that outshines the usual

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading He found in the vast drawing-room five people who had the air of being at home and intimate together.

up to a particular time

From this reading And he did not quite recover his aplomb until the dinner was nearly finished.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading He found in the vast drawing-room five people who had the air of being at home and intimate together.

precisely as stated

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

possessive form of “wheeler” — Scottish archaeologist (1890-1976)

From this reading INSPIRATION I George, despite his own dispositions, as he went up in the lift, to obviate the danger of such a mishap, was put out of countenance by the overwhelming splendour of Miss Irene Wheeler's flat.

which person or people

From this reading He found in the vast drawing-room five people who had the air of being at home and intimate together.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.

but in spite of that

From this reading The rooms were very large and lofty; they blazed with electric light, though the day had not yet gone; they gleamed with the polish of furniture, enamel, bookbindings, marble, ivory, and precious metals; they were ennobled by magnificent pictures, and purified by immense quantities of lovely flowers.