used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He smiled, but with a sarcastic curl to the upper lip not altogether pleasant.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
attiredadjectiveUS /əˈtaɪrd/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
believingnounUS /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/
the cognitive process that leads to convictions
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
boldlyadverbUS /ˈboʊldli/
with boldness, in a bold manner
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "By mistake, Captain," her lips smiling, her eyes steady.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading "By mistake, Captain," her lips smiling, her eyes steady.
Claire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
curlverbUS /kɜːrl/
form a curl, curve, or kink
From this reading He smiled, but with a sarcastic curl to the upper lip not altogether pleasant.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
the organ of sight
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "By mistake, Captain," her lips smiling, her eyes steady.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
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 He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
lipnounUS /lɪp/
either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading He smiled, but with a sarcastic curl to the upper lip not altogether pleasant.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading "By mistake, Captain," her lips smiling, her eyes steady.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading "By mistake, Captain," her lips smiling, her eyes steady.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
moustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/
an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He smiled, but with a sarcastic curl to the upper lip not altogether pleasant.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
accept an excuse for
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading He smiled, but with a sarcastic curl to the upper lip not altogether pleasant.
pledgedadjectiveUS /pledʒd/
bound by or as if by an oath
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
Queen'snounUS /kwiːnz/
possessive form of “queen” — the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
RangersnounUS /ˈreɪndʒərz/
plural of “ranger” — a member of the Texas state highway patrol; formerly a mounted lawman who maintained order on the frontier
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
sarcasticadjectiveUS /sɑːrˈkæstɪk/
expressing or expressive of ridicule that wounds
From this reading He smiled, but with a sarcastic curl to the upper lip not altogether pleasant.
cut with a saw
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He smiled, but with a sarcastic curl to the upper lip not altogether pleasant.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading "By mistake, Captain," her lips smiling, her eyes steady.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
make steady
From this reading "By mistake, Captain," her lips smiling, her eyes steady.
superciliousadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərˈsɪliəs/
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
swarthyadjectiveUS /ˈswɔːrði/
naturally having skin of a dark color
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He smiled, but with a sarcastic curl to the upper lip not altogether pleasant.
a source of difficulty
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
the topmost one of two
From this reading He smiled, but with a sarcastic curl to the upper lip not altogether pleasant.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
waltznounUS /wɔːlts/
an assured victory (especially in an election)
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
at the time that
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE Her hand was in mine, my arm already around her waist, when the officer bowed before us.
a Caucasian
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had been but a dim figure in the afternoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, attired in the green and white of the Queen's Rangers.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Your pardon, Mistress Claire," he said boldly, sweeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mistaken in believing this waltz was pledged to me?"
