Chapter VII · Chapter 7

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

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period)

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

in addition

From this reading His whiskers, also, and mustache, though iron-gray, were excellent in their way.

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

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

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

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

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

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

with no effort to conceal

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

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

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

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

From this reading SIR LIONEL BERTRAM.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

very good; of the highest quality

From this reading His whiskers, also, and mustache, though iron-gray, were excellent in their way.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

a long, loose outer garment

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

a man of refinement

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

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

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

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 But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

fasten with a hook

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

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

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

the color of freshly broken cast iron

From this reading His whiskers, also, and mustache, though iron-gray, were excellent in their way.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

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

From this reading SIR LIONEL BERTRAM.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

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

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

past form of “mention” — make reference to

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

any admirable quality or attribute

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip

From this reading His whiskers, also, and mustache, though iron-gray, were excellent in their way.

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

plural of “peculiarity” — an odd or unusual characteristic

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

by chance

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

a feeling of self-respect and personal worth

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

on the contrary

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

term of address for a man

From this reading SIR LIONEL BERTRAM.

a male human offspring

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

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

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading His whiskers, also, and mustache, though iron-gray, were excellent in their way.

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

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

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

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

the upper part of anything

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

in a vertical position; not sloping

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.

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

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading His whiskers, also, and mustache, though iron-gray, were excellent in their way.

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

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

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

From this reading The personal peculiarities which Sir Lionel had mentioned in his letter to his son as being characteristic of himself were certainly true.

the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face

From this reading His whiskers, also, and mustache, though iron-gray, were excellent in their way.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was an old, or, perhaps, rather an elderly gentleman, in a military frock, with a bald head, a hook nose, and a short allowance of teeth.

but in spite of that

From this reading But he was more than this: though elderly he was tall and upright; he was distinguished looking, and, for an old man, handsome in spite of his lost teeth; and though bald as to the top of his head, had yet enough hair to merit considerable attention, and to be the cause of considerable pride.