adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
apartmentnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənt/
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “You asked for me, Sir Timothy,” Francis said.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
buccaneernounUS /ˌbʌkəˈniːr/
someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without having a commission from any sovereign nation
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
cheeksnounUS /tʃiːks/
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
criminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
GentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/
a man of refinement
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
hearthrugnoun
a rug spread out in front of a fireplace
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
hesitatedverbUS /ˈhezɪteɪtɪd/
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
lawlessadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːləs/
without law or control
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
librarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/
a room where books are kept
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
likenessnounUS /ˈlaɪknəs/
similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
litadjectiveUS /lɪt/
provided with artificial light
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
marblenounUS /ˈmɑːrbəl/
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “You asked for me, Sir Timothy,” Francis said.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
narrowedadjectiveUS /ˈneroʊd/
reduced in size as by squeezing together
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
pedestalnounUS /ˈpedəstəl/
a support or foundation
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
picturenounUS /ˈpɪktʃər/
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
PortraitnounUS /ˈpɔːrtrət/
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
powerfuladjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərfəl/
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
quaintadjectiveUS /kweɪnt/
strange in an interesting or pleasing way
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
RodinnounUS /ˈroʊdɪn/
French sculptor noted for his renderings of the human form (1840-1917)
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “You asked for me, Sir Timothy,” Francis said.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
shieldedadjectiveUS /ˈʃiːldɪd/
(used especially of machinery) protected by a shield to prevent injury
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
SirnounUS /sɜːr/
term of address for a man
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
smileverbUS /smaɪl/
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/
having a supporting base
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
statuenounUS /ˈstætʃuː/
a sculpture representing a human or animal
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
sunkenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌŋkən/
having a sunken area
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
superciliousadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərˈsɪliəs/
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
TimothynounUS /ˈtɪməθi/
grass with long cylindrical spikes grown in northern United States and Europe for hay
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
UnknownadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/
not known
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
Vandyck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
wonderfuladjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərfəl/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You asked for me, Sir Timothy,” Francis said.
