used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading He had aged considerably since our first acquaintance with him.
acted upon; influenced
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
agedadjectiveUS /eɪdʒd/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading He had aged considerably since our first acquaintance with him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Larkins _père_ was now principal barrack-sergeant, and as such was entitled to fairly good quarters.
ankle-joints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
appraisement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Larkins _père_ was now principal barrack-sergeant, and as such was entitled to fairly good quarters.
barracknounUS /ˈbærək/
a building or group of buildings used to house military personnel
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
barrack-sergeant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Larkins _père_ was now principal barrack-sergeant, and as such was entitled to fairly good quarters.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
considerablyadverbUS /kənˈsɪdərəbli/
to a great extent or degree
From this reading He had aged considerably since our first acquaintance with him.
unvarying in nature
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
a small house with a single story
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
damagesnounUS /ˈdæmədʒəz/
a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
entitledadjectiveUS /enˈtaɪtəld/
qualified for by right according to law
From this reading Larkins _père_ was now principal barrack-sergeant, and as such was entitled to fairly good quarters.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Larkins _père_ was now principal barrack-sergeant, and as such was entitled to fairly good quarters.
a social unit living together
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He had aged considerably since our first acquaintance with him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
gaitnounUS /ɡeɪt/
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Larkins _père_ was now principal barrack-sergeant, and as such was entitled to fairly good quarters.
grizzledadjectiveUS /ˈɡrɪzəld/
having dark hairs mixed with grey or white
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
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 His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had aged considerably since our first acquaintance with him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had aged considerably since our first acquaintance with him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
innumerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnuːmərəbəl/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
inspectionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃənz/
plural of “inspection” — a formal or official examination
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
Larkins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
MoorishnounUS /ˈmʊrɪʃ/
a style of architecture common in Spain from the 13th to 16th centuries; characterized by horseshoe-shaped arches
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
nail-holes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Larkins _père_ was now principal barrack-sergeant, and as such was entitled to fairly good quarters.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading He had aged considerably since our first acquaintance with him.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading Larkins _père_ was now principal barrack-sergeant, and as such was entitled to fairly good quarters.
père
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Larkins _père_ was now principal barrack-sergeant, and as such was entitled to fairly good quarters.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading Larkins _père_ was now principal barrack-sergeant, and as such was entitled to fairly good quarters.
residencenounUS /ˈrezɪdəns/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
REVELATIONSnounUS /ˌrevəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “revelation” — the speech act of making something evident
From this reading REVELATIONS.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He had aged considerably since our first acquaintance with him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Larkins _père_ was now principal barrack-sergeant, and as such was entitled to fairly good quarters.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Larkins family had taken up their residence in a small cottage on the road to the Moorish Castle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Larkins _père_ was now principal barrack-sergeant, and as such was entitled to fairly good quarters.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
be dressed in
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His hair was grizzled, his gait was stiff as though his ankle-joints were affected by innumerable barrack inspections, and his eyes were weak from constant search for nail-holes or other barrack damages, or the continuous appraisement of fair wear and tear.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had aged considerably since our first acquaintance with him.
