Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

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

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Glancing upward, he saw tier above tier of ascending galleries with faces looking down upon him.

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

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

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

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

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

plural of “apartment” — a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

moving or going or growing upward

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

utter meaningless sounds, like a baby, or utter in an incoherent way

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

United States labor leader who organized the longshoremen (1901-1990)

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

with brightness

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

a period of 100 years

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

lacking definite form or limits

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

coming down or downward

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

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

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

making lively and cheerful

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Glancing upward, he saw tier above tier of ascending galleries with faces looking down upon him.

well known or easily recognized

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

delicate and intricate ornamentation (usually in gold or silver or other fine twisted wire)

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

plural of “gallery” — spectators at a golf or tennis match

From this reading Glancing upward, he saw tier above tier of ascending galleries with faces looking down upon him.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading Glancing upward, he saw tier above tier of ascending galleries with faces looking down upon him.

United States evangelical preacher famous as a mass evangelist (born in 1918)

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

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

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

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

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Glancing upward, he saw tier above tier of ascending galleries with faces looking down upon him.

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

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

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

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

too numerous to be counted

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

someone in charge of other people

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

an intermediate platform in a staircase

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Glancing upward, he saw tier above tier of ascending galleries with faces looking down upon him.

lacking brilliance or vitality

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

of a pale to moderate greyish violet color

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

the force of workers available

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

coming next after the eighteenth in position

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

plural of “panel” — sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

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

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

having a hole cut through

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

a relatively flat highland

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

ceramic ware made of a more or less translucent ceramic

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

having a quality that thrusts itself into attention

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

a purple color or pigment

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

cut with a saw

From this reading Glancing upward, he saw tier above tier of ascending galleries with faces looking down upon him.

an ordered reference standard

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

plural of “screen” — a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

being a smooth continuous motion

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

the place where something begins, where it springs into being

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

inflected form of “span” — to cover or extend over an area or time period

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

-ing form of “terminate” — bring to an end or halt

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

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

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

a relative position or degree of value in a graded group

From this reading Glancing upward, he saw tier above tier of ascending galleries with faces looking down upon him.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

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

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

directed up

From this reading Glancing upward, he saw tier above tier of ascending galleries with faces looking down upon him.

mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

characterized by variety

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

precisely as stated

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

the visual percept of a region

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

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

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

a Caucasian

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.

belonging to which person

From this reading The air was full of the babble of innumerable voices and of a music that descended from above, a gay and exhilarating music whose source he did not discover.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading He came out through one of the now familiar sliding panels upon a plateau of landing at the head of a flight of very broad and gentle steps, with men and women far more brilliantly dressed than any he had hitherto seen, ascending and descending.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading PROMINENT PEOPLE The state apartments of the Wind Vane Keeper would have astonished Graham had he entered them fresh from his nineteenth century life, but already he was growing accustomed to the scale of the new time.

shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)

From this reading From this position he looked down a vista of subtle and varied ornament in lustreless white and mauve and purple, spanned by bridges that seemed wrought of porcelain and filigree, and terminating far off in a cloudy mystery of perforated screens.