Chapter I

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

From this reading Lieutenant George Arlington Hemingwood, of the Hemingwoods of Boston, was wrestling with a problem.

provided with something intended to increase its beauty or distinction

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

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

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

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

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

a city in northern Texas between Dallas and Fort Worth

From this reading Lieutenant George Arlington Hemingwood, of the Hemingwoods of Boston, was wrestling with a problem.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Author of “Texas Steerers,” “Release,” etc.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading Lieutenant George Arlington Hemingwood, of the Hemingwoods of Boston, was wrestling with a problem.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

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

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

without stop or interruption

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

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

From this reading Author of “Texas Steerers,” “Release,” etc.

the organ of sight

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

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

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

to certain extent or degree

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

very recently

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading Lieutenant George Arlington Hemingwood, of the Hemingwoods of Boston, was wrestling with a problem.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

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 Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

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

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

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

From this reading Lieutenant George Arlington Hemingwood, of the Hemingwoods of Boston, was wrestling with a problem.

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

From this reading Lieutenant George Arlington Hemingwood, of the Hemingwoods of Boston, was wrestling with a problem.

having or covered with hair

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

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

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

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

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

past form of “inspect” — look over carefully

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

immediately past

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

a commissioned military officer

From this reading Lieutenant George Arlington Hemingwood, of the Hemingwoods of Boston, was wrestling with a problem.

either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

plural of “lotion” — any of various cosmetic preparations that are applied to the skin

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

marked by complexity and richness of detail

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

polished surface that forms images by reflecting light

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of “Texas Steerers,” “Release,” etc.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

above and across; more than

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading Lieutenant George Arlington Hemingwood, of the Hemingwoods of Boston, was wrestling with a problem.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

release, as from one's grip

From this reading Author of “Texas Steerers,” “Release,” etc.

meet the requirements or expectations of

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

having the beard or hair cut off close to the skin

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

a kind of pain such as that caused by a wound or a burn or a sore

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

affording physical relief

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

look at with fixed eyes

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

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

From this reading Author of “Texas Steerers,” “Release,” etc.

(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

the second largest state; located in southwestern United States on the Gulf of Mexico

From this reading Author of “Texas Steerers,” “Release,” etc.

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

From this reading Lieutenant George Arlington Hemingwood, of the Hemingwoods of Boston, was wrestling with a problem.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It was a fairly luxuriant mustache, as those hirsute adornments go, but it did not quite satisfy his critical eye.

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

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

plural of “touch” — the event of something coming in contact with the body

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

up to a particular time

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

the topmost one of two

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

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

From this reading Lieutenant George Arlington Hemingwood, of the Hemingwoods of Boston, was wrestling with a problem.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

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

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Lieutenant George Arlington Hemingwood, of the Hemingwoods of Boston, was wrestling with a problem.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading He leaned over until his deeply tanned face was within an inch of the glass and inspected in detail the small, close-cropped black mustache which adorned his upper lip.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading Having applied soothing lotions to his freshly shaved and smarting face, and put the last touches to the part in his black hair, he continued to stare into the small mirror and wonder whether he ought to do it or not.

the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat

From this reading Lieutenant George Arlington Hemingwood, of the Hemingwoods of Boston, was wrestling with a problem.