used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. Kent was a very able magistrate.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Mr. Kent was a very able magistrate.
adeptadjectiveUS /əˈdept/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading He rarely erred; long practice had made him an adept in reading faces.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
attainments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
carefully weighed
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
erredverbUS /erd/
past form of “err” — to make a mistake or be incorrect
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He rarely erred; long practice had made him an adept in reading faces.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
giftedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪftəd/
endowed with talent or talents
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He rarely erred; long practice had made him an adept in reading faces.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
KentnounUS /kent/
a county in southeastern England on the English Channel; formerly an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, it was the first to be colonized by the Romans
From this reading Mr. Kent was a very able magistrate.
legaladjectiveUS /ˈliːɡəl/
established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He rarely erred; long practice had made him an adept in reading faces.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He rarely erred; long practice had made him an adept in reading faces.
magistratenounUS /ˈmædʒəstreɪt/
a lay judge or civil authority who administers the law (especially one who conducts a court dealing with minor offenses)
From this reading Mr. Kent was a very able magistrate.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Kent was a very able magistrate.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
on one occasion
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading He rarely erred; long practice had made him an adept in reading faces.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading He rarely erred; long practice had made him an adept in reading faces.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading He rarely erred; long practice had made him an adept in reading faces.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
cut with a saw
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
not often
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
shrewdnessnounUS /ˈʃruːdnəs/
intelligence manifested by being astute (as in business dealings)
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Trial.
the act of testing something
From this reading The Trial.
precisely as stated
From this reading Mr. Kent was a very able magistrate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Kent was a very able magistrate.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He very seldom erred in his judgment, and being gifted with a natural shrewdness, he saw the difference at once between a guilty and an innocent man.
a late time of life
From this reading He had sat on the bench for many years and was considered a man of great legal attainments and skill.
