adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
appearingnounUS /əˈpɪrɪŋ/
formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
Aylett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But had he expected to encounter a roomful of ladies, his costume could not have been more unexceptionable.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
begrimedadjective
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But had he expected to encounter a roomful of ladies, his costume could not have been more unexceptionable.
childhoodnounUS /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/
the time of person's life when they are a child
From this reading In his childhood he was one to whom, to use the common phrase, dirt would not stick.
cleanadjectiveUS /kliːn/
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
commonadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmən/
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading In his childhood he was one to whom, to use the common phrase, dirt would not stick.
companionsnounUS /kəmˈpænjənz/
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading But had he expected to encounter a roomful of ladies, his costume could not have been more unexceptionable.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But had he expected to encounter a roomful of ladies, his costume could not have been more unexceptionable.
dirtnounUS /dɜːrt/
the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
From this reading In his childhood he was one to whom, to use the common phrase, dirt would not stick.
discomposedadjective
having your composure disturbed
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
distressingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstresɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
dozennounUS /ˈdʌzən/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
embarrassingadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəsɪŋ/
hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading But had he expected to encounter a roomful of ladies, his costume could not have been more unexceptionable.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
expectedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektəd/
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading But had he expected to encounter a roomful of ladies, his costume could not have been more unexceptionable.
experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
fairadjectiveUS /fer/
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
frights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
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 His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
hallnounUS /hɔːl/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
hatnounUS /hæt/
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But had he expected to encounter a roomful of ladies, his costume could not have been more unexceptionable.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
ITpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
ladiesnounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading But had he expected to encounter a roomful of ladies, his costume could not have been more unexceptionable.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
milesnounUS /maɪlz/
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But had he expected to encounter a roomful of ladies, his costume could not have been more unexceptionable.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In his childhood he was one to whom, to use the common phrase, dirt would not stick.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In his childhood he was one to whom, to use the common phrase, dirt would not stick.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
overcoatnounUS /ˈoʊvərkoʊt/
a heavy coat worn over clothes in winter
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
pausenounUS /pɔːz/
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
peculiaritynounUS /pɪˌkjuːliˈerəti/
an odd or unusual characteristic
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
phrasenounUS /freɪz/
an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading In his childhood he was one to whom, to use the common phrase, dirt would not stick.
positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
riddenverbUS /ˈrɪdən/
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
roomfulnounUS /ˈruːmfʊl/
the quantity a room will hold
From this reading But had he expected to encounter a roomful of ladies, his costume could not have been more unexceptionable.
roughadjectiveUS /rʌf/
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
seemingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːmɪŋ/
appearing as such but not necessarily so
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
sentnounUS /sent/
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
smoothadjectiveUS /smuːð/
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
stickverbUS /stɪk/
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading In his childhood he was one to whom, to use the common phrase, dirt would not stick.
stormverbUS /stɔːrm/
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
teethnounUS /tiːθ/
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In his childhood he was one to whom, to use the common phrase, dirt would not stick.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In his childhood he was one to whom, to use the common phrase, dirt would not stick.
To-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
tumbleverbUS /ˈtʌmbəl/
fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
unexceptionableadjective
completely acceptable; not open to exception or reproach
From this reading But had he expected to encounter a roomful of ladies, his costume could not have been more unexceptionable.
unkemptadjectiveUS /ənˈkempt/
not neatly combed
From this reading His face was clean and fair, his hands smooth, and his hair in order after rough and tumble experiences that sent his companions home begrimed, ragged, and unkempt frights.
usenounUS /juːs/
the act of using
From this reading In his childhood he was one to whom, to use the common phrase, dirt would not stick.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In his childhood he was one to whom, to use the common phrase, dirt would not stick.
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading To-night, he had ridden a dozen miles in the teeth of the storm, and made no pause before appearing before his wife and sister, except to lay off his hat and overcoat in the hall.
Winston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was a peculiarity of Winston Aylett that he was never discomposed in seeming, however embarrassing or distressing might be his position.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In his childhood he was one to whom, to use the common phrase, dirt would not stick.
