used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
regarded with admiration
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
anew
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
(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 And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
a cherished desire
From this reading Back of every improvement lay a unifying ambition.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Back of every improvement lay a unifying ambition.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
brighteradjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtər/
comparative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
disappearverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/
get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
disputedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈpjuːtəd/
subject to disagreement and debate
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
destroyed or killed
From this reading And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
harmonizedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmənaɪzd/
involving or characterized by harmony
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
illusionsnounUS /ˌɪˈluːʒənz/
plural of “illusion” — an erroneous mental representation
From this reading And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
improvementnounUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvmənt/
a change for the better; progress in development
From this reading Back of every improvement lay a unifying ambition.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
key-word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its key-word was mahogany.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Back of every improvement lay a unifying ambition.
lighternounUS /ˈlaɪtər/
a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
loftieradjectiveUS /ˈlɔːftiər/
comparative of “lofty” — of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
From this reading And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
mahoganynounUS /məˈhɑːɡəni/
wood of any of various mahogany trees; much used for cabinetwork and furniture
From this reading Its key-word was mahogany.
microcosmnounUS /ˈmaɪkrəkɑːzəm/
a miniature model of something
From this reading And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
more desirable than another
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
respectabilitynounUS /riˌspektəˈbɪlɪti/
honorableness by virtue of being respectable and having a good reputation
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
scrapnounUS /skræp/
a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
carry out
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
unifyingadjectiveUS /ˈjuːnəfaɪɪŋ/
combining into a single unit
From this reading Back of every improvement lay a unifying ambition.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Its key-word was mahogany.
at the time that
From this reading And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading The superior social respectability of this wood could not be disputed, and it had a sort of natural dignity that harmonized with the father's solid taste--though the mother might have preferred something lighter and brighter.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading And a microcosm of mahogany might, after all, be worth living for when loftier illusions had gone on the scrap heap.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Every so often a piece of furniture would disappear and a better one take its place, to be studied and admired and tried out again and again.
