used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
in the past
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
arrogantadjectiveUS /ˈerəɡənt/
having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
automobilenounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːl/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
a period of 100 years
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading The face at which David was staring now so thoughtfully had been one of the handsomest of its generation.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
exquisiteadjectiveUS /ˈekskwəzət/
intense or sharp
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The face at which David was staring now so thoughtfully had been one of the handsomest of its generation.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
FlemingnounUS /ˈflemɪŋ/
British writer famous for writing spy novels about secret agent James Bond (1908-1964)
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
generationnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃən/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading The face at which David was staring now so thoughtfully had been one of the handsomest of its generation.
a man of refinement
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
greyhoundnounUS /ˈɡreɪhaʊnd/
a tall slender dog of an ancient breed noted for swiftness and keen sight; used as a racing dog
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
handsomest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The face at which David was staring now so thoughtfully had been one of the handsomest of its generation.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The face at which David was staring now so thoughtfully had been one of the handsomest of its generation.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
in motion
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
musedverbUS /mjuːzd/
past form of “muse” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
negligentlyadverbUS /ˈneɡlɪdʒəntli/
in a negligent manner
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
not one, and not any
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The face at which David was staring now so thoughtfully had been one of the handsomest of its generation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The face at which David was staring now so thoughtfully had been one of the handsomest of its generation.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
picturedadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərd/
seen in the mind as a mental image
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
posedadjectiveUS /poʊzd/
arranged for pictorial purposes
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
possessing material wealth
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The face at which David was staring now so thoughtfully had been one of the handsomest of its generation.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading The face at which David was staring now so thoughtfully had been one of the handsomest of its generation.
stormyadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːrmi/
(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading The face at which David was staring now so thoughtfully had been one of the handsomest of its generation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
WastewaternounUS /ˈweɪstwɔːtər/
water mixed with waste matter
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
at the time that
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The face at which David was staring now so thoughtfully had been one of the handsomest of its generation.
which person or people
From this reading This was Black Roger, who had been master here at Wastewater all the days of his stormy and brilliant life.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But Roger Fleming, this exquisite, negligently smiling gentleman pictured with the bay horse and the slim greyhound, had missed none of these things from his crowded life.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading What a different world it had been, mused David; a world without an electric light or bell or street car to disturb it--without a moving picture or an automobile!
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading When Roger Fleming, arrogant, young, rich, had posed for this picture, now a whole third of a century ago, the world had been at his feet.
