used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This apartment, which generally smells of musty bones, is, as a rule, extremely small, extremely dark, and extremely useless.
anglenounUS /ˈæŋɡəl/
the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This apartment, which generally smells of musty bones, is, as a rule, extremely small, extremely dark, and extremely useless.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
From this reading This apartment, which generally smells of musty bones, is, as a rule, extremely small, extremely dark, and extremely useless.
bookcasenounUS /ˈbʊkkeɪs/
a piece of furniture with shelves for storing books
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
broomnounUS /bruːm/
a cleaning implement for sweeping; bundle of straws or twigs attached to a long handle
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
cheerlessnessnoun
a feeling of dreary or pessimistic sadness
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
conspicuousadjectiveUS /kənˈspɪkjuːəs/
obvious to the eye or mind
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
unvarying in nature
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
contemplationnounUS /ˌkɑːntəmˈpleɪʃən/
a long and thoughtful observation
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
cupboardnounUS /ˈkʌbərd/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading This apartment, which generally smells of musty bones, is, as a rule, extremely small, extremely dark, and extremely useless.
denominatedverbUS /dɪˈnɑːməneɪtɪd/
past form of “denominate” — assign a name or title to
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
dissipatedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪsəpeɪtɪd/
unrestrained by convention or morality
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
drunkenadjectiveUS /ˈdrʌŋkən/
given to or marked by the consumption of alcohol
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
remove the dust from
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
dusternounUS /ˈdʌstər/
a windstorm that lifts up clouds of dust or sand
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
Englishman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
to come or go into
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
establishmentnounUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/
the act of forming or establishing something
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading This apartment, which generally smells of musty bones, is, as a rule, extremely small, extremely dark, and extremely useless.
a social unit living together
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
fictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/
a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
set up or found
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
usually; as a rule
From this reading This apartment, which generally smells of musty bones, is, as a rule, extremely small, extremely dark, and extremely useless.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
hiding-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
housemaidnoun
a female domestic
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
includeverbUS /ˌɪnˈkluːd/
have as a part, be made up out of
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
insufficientadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/
of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
mustyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌsti/
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading This apartment, which generally smells of musty bones, is, as a rule, extremely small, extremely dark, and extremely useless.
absolutely essential
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
not any; not one
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
parodynounUS /ˈperədi/
a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
politeadjectiveUS /pəˈlaɪt/
showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
proverbialadjectiveUS /prəˈvɜːrbiəl/
of or relating to or resembling or expressed in a proverb
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
residencenounUS /ˈrezɪdəns/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading This apartment, which generally smells of musty bones, is, as a rule, extremely small, extremely dark, and extremely useless.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
skeletonnounUS /ˈskelətən/
something reduced to its minimal form
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading This apartment, which generally smells of musty bones, is, as a rule, extremely small, extremely dark, and extremely useless.
smellsnounUS /smelz/
plural of “smell” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading This apartment, which generally smells of musty bones, is, as a rule, extremely small, extremely dark, and extremely useless.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
suicidenounUS /ˈsuːəsaɪd/
the act of killing yourself
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
suitableadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtəbəl/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This apartment, which generally smells of musty bones, is, as a rule, extremely small, extremely dark, and extremely useless.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading This apartment, which generally smells of musty bones, is, as a rule, extremely small, extremely dark, and extremely useless.
volumesnounUS /ˈvɑːljuːmz/
plural of “volume” — the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
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 To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
well-regulated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It is an article of belief that every Englishman's private residence must include an apartment which, by a polite fiction, is denominated a study.
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 To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Dust lies thick upon the shabby furniture, by reason of the housemaid never being allowed to enter it with duster and broom; and the few volumes on the shelves of the parody of a bookcase lean against each other at a drunken angle, with a dissipated air of books that have lost all respect for themselves.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Provided with the necessary cupboard, no more suitable hiding-place could be found for the proverbial family skeleton, without which no well-regulated establishment can be said to be complete.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To add to the conspicuous cheerlessness of the room, its one insufficient window looks out upon a dreary back wall, a constant contemplation of which would be likely to drive a man's thoughts in the direction of suicide.
