used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
pleasantly occupied
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But before he had gone a dozen steps the front door opened and the man came outside.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But before he had gone a dozen steps the front door opened and the man came outside.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But before he had gone a dozen steps the front door opened and the man came outside.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
clothing in general
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
disconcertingadjectiveUS /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrtɪŋ/
causing an emotional disturbance
From this reading This was disconcerting, and he turned to walk on.
dishevelledadjective
in disarray; extremely disorderly
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading But before he had gone a dozen steps the front door opened and the man came outside.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading But before he had gone a dozen steps the front door opened and the man came outside.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
eccentricitiesnounUS /ˌeksenˈtrɪsɪtiz/
plural of “eccentricity” — strange and unconventional behavior
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
enclosurenounUS /enˈkloʊʒər/
a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
examiningverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
a man of refinement
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
destroyed or killed
From this reading But before he had gone a dozen steps the front door opened and the man came outside.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
IIInoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
Maltham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This was disconcerting, and he turned to walk on.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading But before he had gone a dozen steps the front door opened and the man came outside.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading But before he had gone a dozen steps the front door opened and the man came outside.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
shabbinessnoun
a lack of elegance as a consequence of wearing threadbare or dirty clothing
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
slouchnounUS /slaʊtʃ/
an incompetent person; usually used in negative constructions
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading But before he had gone a dozen steps the front door opened and the man came outside.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
an idea that is suggested
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
thereaboutsadverbUS /ˌðerəˈbaʊts/
near that time or date
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading This was disconcerting, and he turned to walk on.
unnecessaryadjectiveUS /ənˈnesəseri/
not necessary
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading This was disconcerting, and he turned to walk on.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
at the time that
From this reading He was sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading III Maltham had come to a full stop in front of this absurd dwelling, which was set a little back from the road in a dishevelled enclosure, and as he stood examining in an amused way its various eccentricities he became aware that from one of the lower windows a man was watching him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was dressed in shabby grey clothes with a certain suggestion of a military cut about them; but in spite of his shabbiness he had the look of a gentleman.
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 sixty, or thereabouts, and seemed to have been well set up when he was younger--before the slouch had settled on his shoulders and before he had taken on a good many unnecessary inches about his waist.
