used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/
gotten through environmental forces
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE CHINESE CHAIN What Mark had heard was, as he had said, interesting.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The room, at the back of the house, had been chosen as much for its quiet as its low rent.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The room, at the back of the house, had been chosen as much for its quiet as its low rent.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading THE CHINESE CHAIN What Mark had heard was, as he had said, interesting.
CHINESEnounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading THE CHINESE CHAIN What Mark had heard was, as he had said, interesting.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading The room, at the back of the house, had been chosen as much for its quiet as its low rent.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
droplight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The room, at the back of the house, had been chosen as much for its quiet as its low rent.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
furnishingsnounUS /ˈfɜːrnɪʃɪŋz/
plural of “furnishing” — (usually plural) accessory wearing apparel
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE CHINESE CHAIN What Mark had heard was, as he had said, interesting.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE CHINESE CHAIN What Mark had heard was, as he had said, interesting.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading THE CHINESE CHAIN What Mark had heard was, as he had said, interesting.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The room, at the back of the house, had been chosen as much for its quiet as its low rent.
impartedverbUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːrtɪd/
past form of “impart” — transmit (knowledge or skills)
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading THE CHINESE CHAIN What Mark had heard was, as he had said, interesting.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The room, at the back of the house, had been chosen as much for its quiet as its low rent.
litternounUS /ˈlɪtər/
the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
lived-in
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The room, at the back of the house, had been chosen as much for its quiet as its low rent.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading THE CHINESE CHAIN What Mark had heard was, as he had said, interesting.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The room, at the back of the house, had been chosen as much for its quiet as its low rent.
occupancynounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənsi/
an act of being a tenant or occupant
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
possessionsnounUS /pəˈzeʃənz/
plural of “possession” — the act of having and controlling property
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The room, at the back of the house, had been chosen as much for its quiet as its low rent.
radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/
the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
rentverbUS /rent/
let for money
From this reading The room, at the back of the house, had been chosen as much for its quiet as its low rent.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE CHINESE CHAIN What Mark had heard was, as he had said, interesting.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHINESE CHAIN What Mark had heard was, as he had said, interesting.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was sitting by the table reading, the radiance of a green droplight falling over the litter of papers and across his shoulder to the page of his book.
uglinessnounUS /ˈʌɡlinəs/
qualities of appearance that do not give pleasure to the senses
From this reading A few of his own possessions relieved the ugliness of its mean furnishings, and it had acquired from his occupancy a lived-in, comfortable look.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CHINESE CHAIN What Mark had heard was, as he had said, interesting.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THE CHINESE CHAIN What Mark had heard was, as he had said, interesting.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It had been imparted in an interview as startling as it was unexpected, which had taken place in his room the evening before.
