used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
alarm-clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
atrociousadjectiveUS /əˈtroʊʃəs/
shockingly brutal or cruel
From this reading The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
a line of approach
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
batteredadjectiveUS /ˈbætərd/
damaged by blows or hard usage
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
blindedadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪd/
deprived of sight
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
blisteredverbUS /ˈblɪstərd/
past form of “blister” — get blistered
From this reading The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
bricknounUS /brɪk/
rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
cappedadjectiveUS /kæpt/
used especially of front teeth having (artificial) crowns
From this reading The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
crowdingnounUS /ˈkraʊdɪŋ/
a situation in which people or things are crowded together
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
deprivingverbUS /dɪˈpraɪvɪŋ/
-ing form of “deprive” — take away possessions from someone
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
friezenounUS /friːz/
an architectural ornament consisting of a horizontal sculptured band between the architrave and the cornice
From this reading The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
frontingverbUS /ˈfrʌntɪŋ/
-ing form of “front” — be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to
From this reading The two windows fronting on the avenue let in two shafts of oblique sunlight.
usually; as a rule
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
impendverbUS /ˌɪmˈpend/
be imminent or about to happen
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The two windows fronting on the avenue let in two shafts of oblique sunlight.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The two windows fronting on the avenue let in two shafts of oblique sunlight.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
MadisonnounUS /ˈmædəsən/
4th President of the United States; member of the Continental Congress and rapporteur at the Constitutional Convention in 1776; helped frame the Bill of Rights (1751-1836)
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
mantelnounUS /ˈmæntəl/
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
mustyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌsti/
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
obliqueadjectiveUS /əˈbliːk/
slanting or inclined in direction or course or position--neither parallel nor perpendicular nor right-angled
From this reading The two windows fronting on the avenue let in two shafts of oblique sunlight.
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
Pim's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
a light shade of red
From this reading The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
preciselyadverbUS /prɪˈsaɪsli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
shaftsnounUS /ʃæfts/
plural of “shaft” — a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading The two windows fronting on the avenue let in two shafts of oblique sunlight.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The two windows fronting on the avenue let in two shafts of oblique sunlight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The room was enormous, high and generally dim, the third floor front of Miss Pim's boarding-house on lower Madison Avenue.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
ThursdaynounUS /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/
the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
uprisingnounUS /əˈpraɪzɪŋ/
organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
violetnounUS /ˈvaɪəlɪt/
any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
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 Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
plural of “wall” — 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 The musty violet paper on the walls, blistered in spots, was capped by a frieze of atrocious pink and blue roses.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The day was Thursday; the month, October, rushing to its close; and the battered alarm-clock on the red mantel stood at precisely one o'clock.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Of its four windows, two, those at the side, had been blinded by the uprising of an ugly brick wall, which seemed to impend over the room, crowding into it, depriving it of air.
