adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was not a hair on his face which could serve to hang a guess upon.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
actionsnounUS /ˈækʃənz/
plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
affectedadjectiveUS /əˈfektɪd/
acted upon; influenced
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
afterwardsadverbUS /ˈæftərwərdz/
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading His age it was impossible to say.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
bastionnounUS /ˈbæstʃən/
a group that defends a principle
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
beholder's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
completelyadverbUS /kəmˈpliːtli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
correctedadjectiveUS /kərˈektəd/
having something undesirable neutralized
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There was not a hair on his face which could serve to hang a guess upon.
diamondnounUS /ˈdaɪmənd/
a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading He wore a heavy ring, of which the gold seemed fair, the diamond questionable, and the taste indifferent.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
estimatenounUS /ˈestəmət/
an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There was not a hair on his face which could serve to hang a guess upon.
fairadjectiveUS /fer/
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading He wore a heavy ring, of which the gold seemed fair, the diamond questionable, and the taste indifferent.
fashionnounUS /ˈfæʃən/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
foreheadnounUS /ˈfɔːrhed/
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
fringenounUS /frɪndʒ/
the outside boundary or surface of something
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/
coins made of gold
From this reading He wore a heavy ring, of which the gold seemed fair, the diamond questionable, and the taste indifferent.
guessverbUS /ɡes/
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading There was not a hair on his face which could serve to hang a guess upon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
hairnounUS /her/
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 There was not a hair on his face which could serve to hang a guess upon.
hangverbUS /hæŋ/
be suspended or hanging
From this reading There was not a hair on his face which could serve to hang a guess upon.
hastilyadverbUS /ˈheɪstəli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading He wore a heavy ring, of which the gold seemed fair, the diamond questionable, and the taste indifferent.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His age it was impossible to say.
hitheradverbUS /ˈhɪðər/
an old word meaning “to this place”
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
hungverbUS /hʌŋ/
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading His age it was impossible to say.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
indifferentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrənt/
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading He wore a heavy ring, of which the gold seemed fair, the diamond questionable, and the taste indifferent.
interveningadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈviːnɪŋ/
occurring or falling between events or points in time
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His age it was impossible to say.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
middlenounUS /ˈmɪdəl/
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was not a hair on his face which could serve to hang a guess upon.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was not a hair on his face which could serve to hang a guess upon.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
partedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːrtɪd/
having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
questionableadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənəbəl/
subject to question
From this reading He wore a heavy ring, of which the gold seemed fair, the diamond questionable, and the taste indifferent.
reposeverbUS /riˈpoʊz/
put or confide something in a person or thing
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
ringverbUS /rɪŋ/
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading He wore a heavy ring, of which the gold seemed fair, the diamond questionable, and the taste indifferent.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading His age it was impossible to say.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He wore a heavy ring, of which the gold seemed fair, the diamond questionable, and the taste indifferent.
sentnounUS /sent/
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
sentencesnounUS /ˈsentənsəz/
plural of “sentence” — a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
serveverbUS /sɜːrv/
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading There was not a hair on his face which could serve to hang a guess upon.
sexnounUS /seks/
activities associated with sexual intercourse
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
shiftedverbUS /ˈʃɪftɪd/
past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
six-and-twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/
being one more than fifteen
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
tasteverbUS /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading He wore a heavy ring, of which the gold seemed fair, the diamond questionable, and the taste indifferent.
tenornounUS /ˈtenər/
the adult male singing voice above baritone
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was not a hair on his face which could serve to hang a guess upon.
thitheradverbUS /ˈðɪθɜːr/
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His age it was impossible to say.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There was not a hair on his face which could serve to hang a guess upon.
valancenoun
a decorative framework to conceal curtain fixtures at the top of a window casing
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
verticaladjectiveUS /ˈvɜːrtɪkəl/
at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line
From this reading He had a broad forehead, vertical as the face of a bastion, and his hair, which was parted in the middle, hung as a fringe or valance above, in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His age it was impossible to say.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was not a hair on his face which could serve to hang a guess upon.
woreverbUS /wɔːr/
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading He wore a heavy ring, of which the gold seemed fair, the diamond questionable, and the taste indifferent.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading In repose he appeared a boy; but his actions were so completely those of a man that the beholder’s first estimate of sixteen as his age was hastily corrected to six-and-twenty, and afterwards shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the tenor of his sentences sent him up or down.
