used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading I made his acquaintance in this wise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
artisticadjectiveUS /ɑːrˈtɪstɪk/
relating to or characteristic of art or artists
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was so short, chubby, and round-faced that at first sight he looked younger than he was.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
a youthful male person
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
chubbyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃʌbi/
sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure
From this reading He was so short, chubby, and round-faced that at first sight he looked younger than he was.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading One night I went down early to dinner.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading One night I went down early to dinner.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading One night I went down early to dinner.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He was so short, chubby, and round-faced that at first sight he looked younger than he was.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
fourteennounUS /ˈfɔːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was so short, chubby, and round-faced that at first sight he looked younger than he was.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I made his acquaintance in this wise.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
introduceverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːs/
cause to come to know personally
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He was so short, chubby, and round-faced that at first sight he looked younger than he was.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading I made his acquaintance in this wise.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading One night I went down early to dinner.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One night I went down early to dinner.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
portière
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
round-facedadjective
having a round face
From this reading He was so short, chubby, and round-faced that at first sight he looked younger than he was.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading He was so short, chubby, and round-faced that at first sight he looked younger than he was.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading He was so short, chubby, and round-faced that at first sight he looked younger than he was.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was so short, chubby, and round-faced that at first sight he looked younger than he was.
required or under orders
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He was so short, chubby, and round-faced that at first sight he looked younger than he was.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was so short, chubby, and round-faced that at first sight he looked younger than he was.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I made his acquaintance in this wise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One night I went down early to dinner.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading One night I went down early to dinner.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading As I waited in the parlour for the bell to ring, a portière was drawn, and there entered what I supposed to be a little boy.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading I made his acquaintance in this wise.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
a late time of life
From this reading The Man of the World (I shall introduce my friends in the order in which I met them; it is not artistic, but neither is life)—the Man of the World was fourteen years old.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading He was so short, chubby, and round-faced that at first sight he looked younger than he was.
