used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
absorbverbUS /əbˈzɔːrb/
become imbued
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE week following Easter proved rainy and disagreeable.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
clothing in general
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
CopleynounUS /ˈkɑːpli/
American painter who did portraits of Paul Revere and John Hancock before fleeing to England to avoid the American Revolution (1738-1815)
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
Copley'snounUS /ˈkɑːpliz/
possessive form of “copley” — American painter who did portraits of Paul Revere and John Hancock before fleeing to England to avoid the American Revolution (1738-1815)
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
dampnessnounUS /ˈdæmpnɪs/
a slight wetness
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
disagreeableadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/
not to your liking
From this reading THE week following Easter proved rainy and disagreeable.
EasternounUS /ˈiːstər/
a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
From this reading THE week following Easter proved rainy and disagreeable.
EmbassynounUS /ˈembəsi/
a diplomatic building where ambassadors live or work
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
ever-luring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
fair-weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading THE week following Easter proved rainy and disagreeable.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
many times at short intervals
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
imperviousnessnoun
the quality of being impenetrable (by people or light or missiles etc.)
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
journeyingnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrniɪŋ/
the act of traveling from one place to another
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
malarianounUS /məˈleriə/
an infective disease caused by sporozoan parasites that are transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito; marked by paroxysms of chills and fever
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
masculineadjectiveUS /ˈmæskjələn/
of grammatical gender
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
moisturenounUS /ˈmɔɪstʃər/
wetness caused by water
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
mortuaryadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrtʃuːeri/
of or relating to or characteristic of death
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
niecenounUS /niːs/
a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
an amount of time
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
established beyond doubt
From this reading THE week following Easter proved rainy and disagreeable.
rainyadjectiveUS /ˈreɪni/
(of weather) wet by periods of rain
From this reading THE week following Easter proved rainy and disagreeable.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
retainverbUS /rɪˈteɪn/
hold back within
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
solicitousadjectiveUS /səˈlɪsətəs/
full of anxiety and concern
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
storm-bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE week following Easter proved rainy and disagreeable.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
vaultnounUS /vɒlt/
An arched structure of masonry forming a ceiling, or a secure subterranean storage room.
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
villanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The stone walls seemed to absorb and retain the moisture like a vault, and a mortuary atmosphere hung about the rooms.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not a cheerful period, for the villa turned out to be a fair-weather house.
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 Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE week following Easter proved rainy and disagreeable.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading But his wife and niece, more solicitous on the subject of hair and clothes, remained storm-bound, and on the fourth day Mrs. Copley’s conversation turned frequently to malaria.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mr. Copley, with masculine imperviousness to mud and water, succeeded in escaping from the dampness of his home by journeying daily to the ever-luring Embassy.
