used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
BelgianadjectiveUS /ˈbeldʒən/
of or relating to or characteristic of Belgium or the Belgian people
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
BelgiansnounUS /ˈbeldʒənz/
plural of “belgian” — a native or inhabitant of Belgium
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
an occurrence of something
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
educatedadjectiveUS /ˈedʒəkeɪtɪd/
possessing an education (especially having more than average knowledge)
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
apart from; not including
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
a man of refinement
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
GRASCOUR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. GRASCOUR.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
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 M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading M. GRASCOUR.
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 As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
mirrorsnounUS /ˈmɪrərz/
plural of “mirror” — polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
mostlyadverbUS /ˈmoʊstli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
not any; not one
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
(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 in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
which person or people
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
a late time of life
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
