used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The new-comer was an elderly man, in a clerical dress.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The new-comer was an elderly man, in a clerical dress.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading In his walk and general bearing there was the same lassitude and want of energy which spoilt his face.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
clericaladjectiveUS /ˈklerəkəl/
of or relating to clerks
From this reading The new-comer was an elderly man, in a clerical dress.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
put on clothes
From this reading The new-comer was an elderly man, in a clerical dress.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading The new-comer was an elderly man, in a clerical dress.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading In his walk and general bearing there was the same lassitude and want of energy which spoilt his face.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading In his walk and general bearing there was the same lassitude and want of energy which spoilt his face.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading In his walk and general bearing there was the same lassitude and want of energy which spoilt his face.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The new-comer was an elderly man, in a clerical dress.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
lassitudenoun
a state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness)
From this reading In his walk and general bearing there was the same lassitude and want of energy which spoilt his face.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The new-comer was an elderly man, in a clerical dress.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
MATCHEDadjectiveUS /mætʃt/
provided with a worthy adversary or competitor
From this reading MATED, NOT MATCHED.
MATEDadjectiveUS /ˈmeɪtɪd/
mated sexually
From this reading MATED, NOT MATCHED.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
moulded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
new-comer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new-comer was an elderly man, in a clerical dress.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading MATED, NOT MATCHED.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
originallyadverbUS /ərˈɪdʒənəli/
in an original manner
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
proportionnounUS /prəˈpɔːrʃən/
the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
regularlyadverbUS /ˈreɡjələrli/
in a regular manner
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
Identical; not different.
From this reading In his walk and general bearing there was the same lassitude and want of energy which spoilt his face.
spoiltadjective
having the character or disposition harmed by pampering or oversolicitous attention
From this reading In his walk and general bearing there was the same lassitude and want of energy which spoilt his face.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The new-comer was an elderly man, in a clerical dress.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In his walk and general bearing there was the same lassitude and want of energy which spoilt his face.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
thickenedadjectiveUS /ˈθɪkənd/
made or having become thick
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
up to a particular time
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading In his walk and general bearing there was the same lassitude and want of energy which spoilt his face.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading In his walk and general bearing there was the same lassitude and want of energy which spoilt his face.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The new-comer was an elderly man, in a clerical dress.
weaklyadverbUS /ˈwiːkli/
in a weak or feeble manner or to a minor degree
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The features could never have been regularly handsome; they were too weakly moulded for _any_ style of beauty; but their natural expression was evidently meant to be kindly and genial.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In his walk and general bearing there was the same lassitude and want of energy which spoilt his face.
a late time of life
From this reading His figure, originally massive and powerful, had thickened and filled out of late years till little of fair proportion or activity remained.
