used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The transformation was certainly a successful one.
alteredadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərd/
changed in form or character without becoming something else
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With a broadening grin, he retraced his steps to the basket and silently continued his researches.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
barristernounUS /ˈbærɪstər/
a British or Canadian lawyer who speaks in the higher courts of law on behalf of either the defense or prosecution
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
Bascombe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something of this incongruity of costume seemed to strike Mr. Bascombe.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading With a broadening grin, he retraced his steps to the basket and silently continued his researches.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
broad-arrowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
broadeningnounUS /ˈbrɔːdənɪŋ/
the act of making something wider
From this reading With a broadening grin, he retraced his steps to the basket and silently continued his researches.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The transformation was certainly a successful one.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
without stop or interruption
From this reading With a broadening grin, he retraced his steps to the basket and silently continued his researches.
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading Something of this incongruity of costume seemed to strike Mr. Bascombe.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
good-natured-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
grinnounUS /ɡrɪn/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading With a broadening grin, he retraced his steps to the basket and silently continued his researches.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
illusionnounUS /ˌɪˈluːʒən/
an erroneous mental representation
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
incongruitynounUS /ˌɪŋkɔːŋˈruːɪti/
the quality of disagreeing; being unsuitable and inappropriate
From this reading Something of this incongruity of costume seemed to strike Mr. Bascombe.
jacketnounUS /ˈdʒækət/
a short coat
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Something of this incongruity of costume seemed to strike Mr. Bascombe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Something of this incongruity of costume seemed to strike Mr. Bascombe.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The transformation was certainly a successful one.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
parsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
researchesnounUS /riˈsɜːrtʃɪz/
plural of “research” — systematic investigation to establish facts
From this reading With a broadening grin, he retraced his steps to the basket and silently continued his researches.
retracedverbUS /riˈtreɪst/
past form of “retrace” — to go back over again
From this reading With a broadening grin, he retraced his steps to the basket and silently continued his researches.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
ruggedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌɡəd/
sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring
From this reading But for the hideous broad-arrowed jacket below he might easily have passed for a rugged, good-natured-looking barrister or country parson.
scalp-piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Something of this incongruity of costume seemed to strike Mr. Bascombe.
without speaking
From this reading With a broadening grin, he retraced his steps to the basket and silently continued his researches.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something of this incongruity of costume seemed to strike Mr. Bascombe.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading With a broadening grin, he retraced his steps to the basket and silently continued his researches.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading Something of this incongruity of costume seemed to strike Mr. Bascombe.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading The transformation was certainly a successful one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The transformation was certainly a successful one.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Something of this incongruity of costume seemed to strike Mr. Bascombe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
transformationnounUS /ˌtrænsfərˈmeɪʃən/
a qualitative change
From this reading The transformation was certainly a successful one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The transformation was certainly a successful one.
wignounUS /wɪɡ/
hairpiece covering the head and made of real or synthetic hair
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a broadening grin, he retraced his steps to the basket and silently continued his researches.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Coming right down on his forehead, without a scalp-piece to destroy the illusion, the wig altered his appearance to an extraordinary extent.
