used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Over the company stretched a canopy of cloth of gold.
arabesques
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The chairs were of gilt bronze, their arms were carved in elaborate arabesques.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The chairs were of gilt bronze, their arms were carved in elaborate arabesques.
BasilnounUS /ˈbæzəl/
any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
bronzenounUS /brɑːnz/
an alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements; also any copper-base alloy containing other elements in place of tin
From this reading The chairs were of gilt bronze, their arms were carved in elaborate arabesques.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But on this evening he had limited the number of his guests to two score.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
canopynounUS /ˈkæn.ə.pi/
An overhead roof or structure, such as the high vaulted ceiling of an ancient library.
From this reading Over the company stretched a canopy of cloth of gold.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading The chairs were of gilt bronze, their arms were carved in elaborate arabesques.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The chairs were of gilt bronze, their arms were carved in elaborate arabesques.
ChamberlainnounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbərlən/
British statesman who as Prime Minister pursued a policy of appeasement toward fascist Germany (1869-1940)
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Over the company stretched a canopy of cloth of gold.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading Over the company stretched a canopy of cloth of gold.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading On his right sat Roger de Laval, the guest of honor, on his left the Lady Hellayne.
elaborateadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæbrət/
marked by complexity and richness of detail
From this reading The chairs were of gilt bronze, their arms were carved in elaborate arabesques.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading But on this evening he had limited the number of his guests to two score.
feastsnounUS /fiːsts/
plural of “feast” — a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
giltadjectiveUS /ɡɪlt/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading The chairs were of gilt bronze, their arms were carved in elaborate arabesques.
the act of giving
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
coins made of gold
From this reading Over the company stretched a canopy of cloth of gold.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading On his right sat Roger de Laval, the guest of honor, on his left the Lady Hellayne.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading But on this evening he had limited the number of his guests to two score.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But on this evening he had limited the number of his guests to two score.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But on this evening he had limited the number of his guests to two score.
Hellayne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On his right sat Roger de Laval, the guest of honor, on his left the Lady Hellayne.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading On his right sat Roger de Laval, the guest of honor, on his left the Lady Hellayne.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading On his right sat Roger de Laval, the guest of honor, on his left the Lady Hellayne.
Laval
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On his right sat Roger de Laval, the guest of honor, on his left the Lady Hellayne.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading On his right sat Roger de Laval, the guest of honor, on his left the Lady Hellayne.
LETHE'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
limitedadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmətəd/
small in range or scope
From this reading But on this evening he had limited the number of his guests to two score.
attach to a support
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading But on this evening he had limited the number of his guests to two score.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over the company stretched a canopy of cloth of gold.
Pincian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
renownedadjectiveUS /rɪˈnaʊnd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
precisely, exactly
From this reading On his right sat Roger de Laval, the guest of honor, on his left the Lady Hellayne.
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On his right sat Roger de Laval, the guest of honor, on his left the Lady Hellayne.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading On his right sat Roger de Laval, the guest of honor, on his left the Lady Hellayne.
a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
From this reading But on this evening he had limited the number of his guests to two score.
SHORESnounUS /ʃɔːrz/
plural of “shore” — the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Over the company stretched a canopy of cloth of gold.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The chairs were of gilt bronze, their arms were carved in elaborate arabesques.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But on this evening he had limited the number of his guests to two score.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But on this evening he had limited the number of his guests to two score.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But on this evening he had limited the number of his guests to two score.
villanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BY LETHE'S SHORES Basil the Grand Chamberlain was giving one of his renowned feasts in his villa on the Pincian Mount.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The chairs were of gilt bronze, their arms were carved in elaborate arabesques.
