Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

in an admirable manner

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

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

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

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

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

declared publicly; made widely known

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

react verbally

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

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

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

United States composer (1910-1981)

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

the two together, not just one

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred.

an occurrence of something

From this reading Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred.

plural of “celebrity” — a widely known person

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

a widely known person

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

intentionally conceived

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

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

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

being the right size and shape to fit as desired

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

the extent of land abutting on a street or water

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

a man of refinement

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

having dark hairs mixed with grey or white

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

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

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

of the present time and place

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

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

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

be a signal for or a symptom of

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

an organization founded and united for a specific purpose

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

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

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

many times at short intervals

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

possessive form of “porter” — a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

a word picture of a person's appearance and character

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

more desirable than another

From this reading Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred.

in a professional manner

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

established beyond doubt

From this reading Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred.

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

express in words

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred.

term of address for a man

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

plural of “sitter” — Dutch astronomer who calculated the size of the universe and suggested that it is expanding (1872-1934)

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

successive (without a break)

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

adjust to a specific need or market

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

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

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred.

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

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

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

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

a fact that has been verified

From this reading It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

precisely as stated

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

a vivid mental image

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

plural of “visitor” — someone who visits

From this reading Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred.

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

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

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

From this reading There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

at the time that

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

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

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

which person or people

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

hope for; have a wish

From this reading When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days--the wish being father to the thought--an immediate vision of sitters.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.

but in spite of that

From this reading The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally--I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor--would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking.