used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Good-bye, then, for the present,” said a lady’s voice close behind him.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “Good-bye for the present, my dear,” answered a deep, masculine voice.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading “Good-bye, then, for the present,” said a lady’s voice close behind him.
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 discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
buttonholenounUS /ˈbʌtənhoʊl/
a hole through which buttons are pushed
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading “Good-bye, then, for the present,” said a lady’s voice close behind him.
close-buttoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
without stop or interruption
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading Cousin Hans turned slowly, for it was a warm day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Cousin Hans turned slowly, for it was a warm day.
dearly loved
From this reading “Good-bye for the present, my dear,” answered a deep, masculine voice.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading “Good-bye for the present, my dear,” answered a deep, masculine voice.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Good-bye, then, for the present,” said a lady’s voice close behind him.
a man of refinement
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
Good-byenounUS /ɡɪdˈbaɪ/
a farewell remark
From this reading “Good-bye, then, for the present,” said a lady’s voice close behind him.
HansnounUS /hɑːns/
plural of “han” — imperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy; remembered as one of the great eras of Chinese civilization
From this reading Cousin Hans turned slowly, for it was a warm day.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Good-bye, then, for the present,” said a lady’s voice close behind him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
incredibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbəl/
beyond belief or understanding
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Cousin Hans turned slowly, for it was a warm day.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading “Good-bye, then, for the present,” said a lady’s voice close behind him.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
masculineadjectiveUS /ˈmæskjələn/
of grammatical gender
From this reading “Good-bye for the present, my dear,” answered a deep, masculine voice.
military-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Good-bye for the present, my dear,” answered a deep, masculine voice.
neck-cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “Good-bye, then, for the present,” said a lady’s voice close behind him.
rampartsnounUS /ˈræmpɑːrts/
plural of “rampart” — an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Good-bye, then, for the present,” said a lady’s voice close behind him.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Cousin Hans turned slowly, for it was a warm day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Good-bye, then, for the present,” said a lady’s voice close behind him.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “Good-bye, then, for the present,” said a lady’s voice close behind him.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
in the direction of
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
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 discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Cousin Hans turned slowly, for it was a warm day.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “Good-bye, then, for the present,” said a lady’s voice close behind him.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Cousin Hans turned slowly, for it was a warm day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Cousin Hans turned slowly, for it was a warm day.
well-brushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
which person or people
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He discovered a military-looking old man in a close-buttoned black coat, with an order at his buttonhole, a neck-cloth twisted an incredible number of times around his throat, a well-brushed hat, and light trousers.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The gentleman nodded to a young lady, who went off towards the town, and then continued his walk along the ramparts.
