Chapter XXV

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

From this reading As a captain of the Inquisitorial Guard St. Hilary was inimitable.

the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

(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 His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

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

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

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

From this reading As a captain of the Inquisitorial Guard St. Hilary was inimitable.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

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

From this reading It seemed to me quite impossible that we could be recognized.

a room used primarily for sleeping

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading As a captain of the Inquisitorial Guard St. Hilary was inimitable.

a railcar where passengers ride

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

a small cosmetics case with a mirror; to be carried in a woman's purse

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading It seemed to me quite impossible that we could be recognized.

of a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

opinion or judgment

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

the property of being wild or turbulent

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

a small chin beard trimmed to a point; named for its resemblance to a goat's beard

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

a person who keeps watch over something or someone

From this reading As a captain of the Inquisitorial Guard St. Hilary was inimitable.

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

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

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

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

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

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

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

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

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

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading It seemed to me quite impossible that we could be recognized.

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

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

defying imitation; matchless

From this reading As a captain of the Inquisitorial Guard St. Hilary was inimitable.

especially indicating a form of prosecution in which proceedings are secret and the accused is questioned by a prosecutor who acts also as the judge

From this reading As a captain of the Inquisitorial Guard St. Hilary was inimitable.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It seemed to me quite impossible that we could be recognized.

the quality of being meager

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

hide under a false appearance

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

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

From this reading It seemed to me quite impossible that we could be recognized.

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

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As a captain of the Inquisitorial Guard St. Hilary was inimitable.

used when we are both doing the action and receiving it

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

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

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading It seemed to me quite impossible that we could be recognized.

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading It seemed to me quite impossible that we could be recognized.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It seemed to me quite impossible that we could be recognized.

(of meat) full of sinews; especially impossible to chew

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

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

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

not moving or operating freely

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

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

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading His leanness and agility, the stiff carriage of his compact and sinewy little body, the gray goatee and mustachios, all distinctive of St. Hilary, were quite as distinctive of the part he had taken.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It seemed to me quite impossible that we could be recognized.

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

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

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

From this reading It seemed to me quite impossible that we could be recognized.

a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.

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

From this reading As a captain of the Inquisitorial Guard St. Hilary was inimitable.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading It seemed to me quite impossible that we could be recognized.

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

From this reading St. Hilary and I were smiling at ourselves before the pier-glass in my bedroom.

in the company of; together with

From this reading His black eyes, as bright and piercing as any swashbuckler’s, glowed through the velvet mask with a ferocity that was startling.