Chapter IV

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

on or to one side

From this reading The man in the leather jerkin shouldered him aside.

plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Hold, my friend, you cannot pass!”

a man's close-fitting jacket; worn during the Renaissance

From this reading His felt doublet and leather jerkin made a spot on the velvet and silk which surrounded him.

high status importance owing to marked superiority

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

to come or go into

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

-ing form of “exchange” — give to, and receive from, one another

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading His felt doublet and leather jerkin made a spot on the velvet and silk which surrounded him.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading “Hold, my friend, you cannot pass!”

port city in northwestern Belgium and industrial center; famous for cloth industry

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

educate for a future role or function

From this reading Presuming that he was some groom who had stolen in, the usher stopped him.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Presuming that he was some groom who had stolen in, the usher stopped him.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Presuming that he was some groom who had stolen in, the usher stopped him.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading “Hold, my friend, you cannot pass!”

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

a tight sleeveless and collarless jacket (often made of leather) worn by men in former times

From this reading His felt doublet and leather jerkin made a spot on the velvet and silk which surrounded him.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning

From this reading His felt doublet and leather jerkin made a spot on the velvet and silk which surrounded him.

of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading His felt doublet and leather jerkin made a spot on the velvet and silk which surrounded him.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Hold, my friend, you cannot pass!”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading His felt doublet and leather jerkin made a spot on the velvet and silk which surrounded him.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

go across or through

From this reading “Hold, my friend, you cannot pass!”

the beneficiary of a pension fund

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

-ing form of “presume” — take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof

From this reading Presuming that he was some groom who had stolen in, the usher stopped him.

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

having shoulders or shoulders as specified; usually used as a combining form

From this reading The man in the leather jerkin shouldered him aside.

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae

From this reading His felt doublet and leather jerkin made a spot on the velvet and silk which surrounded him.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Presuming that he was some groom who had stolen in, the usher stopped him.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading His felt doublet and leather jerkin made a spot on the velvet and silk which surrounded him.

high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

not in physical motion

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent

From this reading Presuming that he was some groom who had stolen in, the usher stopped him.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading Presuming that he was some groom who had stolen in, the usher stopped him.

confined on all sides

From this reading His felt doublet and leather jerkin made a spot on the velvet and silk which surrounded him.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Presuming that he was some groom who had stolen in, the usher stopped him.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums

From this reading Presuming that he was some groom who had stolen in, the usher stopped him.

a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back

From this reading His felt doublet and leather jerkin made a spot on the velvet and silk which surrounded him.

precisely as stated

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Presuming that he was some groom who had stolen in, the usher stopped him.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading His felt doublet and leather jerkin made a spot on the velvet and silk which surrounded him.

during the time that

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

which person or people

From this reading Presuming that he was some groom who had stolen in, the usher stopped him.

in the company of; together with

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

the words that are spoken

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading While the pensioner of Ghent and his eminence were exchanging very low bows and a few words in voices still lower, a man of lofty stature, with a large face and broad shoulders, presented himself, in order to enter abreast with Guillaume Rym; one would have pronounced him a bull-dog by the side of a fox.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Hold, my friend, you cannot pass!”