adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Fairbairn fetched a couple of white porcelain developing dishes to the table.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
beadedadjectiveUS /ˈbiːdɪd/
covered with beads of liquid
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
brownnounUS /braʊn/
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
bureaunounUS /ˈbjʊroʊ/
an administrative unit of government
From this reading Hillyard unlocked a drawer in his bureau.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
cabinnounUS /ˈkæbən/
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
clearverbUS /klɪr/
rid of obstructions
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading Fairbairn fetched a couple of white porcelain developing dishes to the table.
deck-saloon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were in the deck-saloon of the _Dragonfly_, steaming southwards from Valencia.
developingadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpɪŋ/
relating to societies in which capital needed to industrialize is in short supply
From this reading Fairbairn fetched a couple of white porcelain developing dishes to the table.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading Fairbairn fetched a couple of white porcelain developing dishes to the table.
Dragonflynoun
slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc.
From this reading They were in the deck-saloon of the _Dragonfly_, steaming southwards from Valencia.
drawernounUS /drɔːr/
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out
From this reading Hillyard unlocked a drawer in his bureau.
Fairbairn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fairbairn fetched a couple of white porcelain developing dishes to the table.
fetchedverbUS /fetʃt/
past form of “fetch” — go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading Fairbairn fetched a couple of white porcelain developing dishes to the table.
filledadjectiveUS /fɪld/
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They were in the deck-saloon of the _Dragonfly_, steaming southwards from Valencia.
hill-sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
Hillyard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TRICKS OF THE TRADE "Now!" said Hillyard.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hillyard unlocked a drawer in his bureau.
hissverbUS /hɪs/
make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hillyard unlocked a drawer in his bureau.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
magicaladjectiveUS /ˈmædʒɪkəl/
possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
NowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading TRICKS OF THE TRADE "Now!" said Hillyard.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TRICKS OF THE TRADE "Now!" said Hillyard.
oliveadjectiveUS /ˈɑːləv/
of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
OutsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
planksnounUS /plæŋks/
plural of “plank” — a stout length of sawn timber; made in a wide variety of sizes and used for many purposes
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
porcelainnounUS /ˈpɔːrsələn/
ceramic ware made of a more or less translucent ceramic
From this reading Fairbairn fetched a couple of white porcelain developing dishes to the table.
rustleverbUS /ˈrʌsəl/
make a dry crackling sound
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading TRICKS OF THE TRADE "Now!" said Hillyard.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
silknounUS /sɪlk/
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
slippedverbUS /slɪpt/
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
southwardsadverb
toward the south
From this reading They were in the deck-saloon of the _Dragonfly_, steaming southwards from Valencia.
steamingadjectiveUS /ˈstiːmɪŋ/
filled with steam or emitting moisture in the form of vapor or mist
From this reading They were in the deck-saloon of the _Dragonfly_, steaming southwards from Valencia.
sun-flecked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Fairbairn fetched a couple of white porcelain developing dishes to the table.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TRICKS OF THE TRADE "Now!" said Hillyard.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were in the deck-saloon of the _Dragonfly_, steaming southwards from Valencia.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fairbairn fetched a couple of white porcelain developing dishes to the table.
TRADEnounUS /treɪd/
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading TRICKS OF THE TRADE "Now!" said Hillyard.
treesnounUS /triːz/
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
TRICKSnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading TRICKS OF THE TRADE "Now!" said Hillyard.
unlockedadjectiveUS /ənˈlɑːkt/
not firmly fastened or secured
From this reading Hillyard unlocked a drawer in his bureau.
uplandsnounUS /ˈʌpləndz/
plural of “upland” — elevated (e.g., mountainous) land
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
ValencianounUS /vəˈlensiə/
an industrial city in northern Venezuela
From this reading They were in the deck-saloon of the _Dragonfly_, steaming southwards from Valencia.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
wavesnounUS /weɪvz/
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were in the deck-saloon of the _Dragonfly_, steaming southwards from Valencia.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading Fairbairn fetched a couple of white porcelain developing dishes to the table.
windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Outside the open windows the brown hill-sides, the uplands of olive trees and the sun-flecked waves slipped by in a magical clear light; and the hiss of the beaded water against the ship's planks filled the cabin with a rustle as of silk.
