used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although it was not yet nine o’clock, his morning toilet was irreproachably correct.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Under his light-colored overcoat could be seen a velvet-faced jacket, with a rose in its buttonhole.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
buttonholenounUS /ˈbʌtənhoʊl/
a hole through which buttons are pushed
From this reading Under his light-colored overcoat could be seen a velvet-faced jacket, with a rose in its buttonhole.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
make right or correct
From this reading Although it was not yet nine o’clock, his morning toilet was irreproachably correct.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Under his light-colored overcoat could be seen a velvet-faced jacket, with a rose in its buttonhole.
customersnounUS /ˈkʌstəmərz/
plural of “customer” — someone who pays for goods or services
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
elaborateadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæbrət/
marked by complexity and richness of detail
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
fore-head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
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 already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
hair-dresser's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Although it was not yet nine o’clock, his morning toilet was irreproachably correct.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Under his light-colored overcoat could be seen a velvet-faced jacket, with a rose in its buttonhole.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
inventedverbUS /ˌɪnˈventəd/
past form of “invent” — come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
irreproachablyadverb
in an irreproachable and blameless manner
From this reading Although it was not yet nine o’clock, his morning toilet was irreproachably correct.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Although it was not yet nine o’clock, his morning toilet was irreproachably correct.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Under his light-colored overcoat could be seen a velvet-faced jacket, with a rose in its buttonhole.
jacketnounUS /ˈdʒækət/
a short coat
From this reading Under his light-colored overcoat could be seen a velvet-faced jacket, with a rose in its buttonhole.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
light-coloredadjective
(used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent
From this reading Under his light-colored overcoat could be seen a velvet-faced jacket, with a rose in its buttonhole.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Although it was not yet nine o’clock, his morning toilet was irreproachably correct.
not in physical motion
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
mutteringnounUS /ˈmʌtərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading Although it was not yet nine o’clock, his morning toilet was irreproachably correct.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Although it was not yet nine o’clock, his morning toilet was irreproachably correct.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Although it was not yet nine o’clock, his morning toilet was irreproachably correct.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
overcoatnounUS /ˈoʊvərkoʊt/
a heavy coat worn over clothes in winter
From this reading Under his light-colored overcoat could be seen a velvet-faced jacket, with a rose in its buttonhole.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
PrussiannounUS /ˈprʌʃən/
a German inhabitant of Prussia
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
inspiring scornful pity
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Under his light-colored overcoat could be seen a velvet-faced jacket, with a rose in its buttonhole.
scantyadjectiveUS /ˈskænti/
lacking in magnitude or quantity
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Under his light-colored overcoat could be seen a velvet-faced jacket, with a rose in its buttonhole.
sentencesnounUS /ˈsentənsəz/
plural of “sentence” — a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
tailorsnounUS /ˈteɪlərz/
plural of “tailor” — a person whose occupation is making and altering garments
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
toiletnounUS /ˈtɔɪlət/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Although it was not yet nine o’clock, his morning toilet was irreproachably correct.
trousersnounUS /ˈtraʊzərz/
(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
hard to endure
From this reading Meantime, he remained motionless on the threshold of the door, trying to smile, and muttering one of those sentences which are never intended to be finished.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under his light-colored overcoat could be seen a velvet-faced jacket, with a rose in its buttonhole.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
velvet-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under his light-colored overcoat could be seen a velvet-faced jacket, with a rose in its buttonhole.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Although it was not yet nine o’clock, his morning toilet was irreproachably correct.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had already passed through the hair-dresser’s hands; and his scanty hair was brought forward over his low fore-head with the usual elaborate care.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading He wore a pair of those ridiculous trousers which grow wide from the knee down, and which were invented by Prussian tailors to hide their customers’ ugly feet.
but in spite of that
From this reading Although it was not yet nine o’clock, his morning toilet was irreproachably correct.
