Chapter I

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

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

(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 He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

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

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

water travel for pleasure

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

the childhood of a boy

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

a sum of money allocated for a particular purpose

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

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

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading The deep vertical mark running up the forehead meant sorrow.

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

at any time

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

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

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

plural of “flannel” — a soft light woolen fabric; used for clothing

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading The deep vertical mark running up the forehead meant sorrow.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

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

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

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

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

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

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

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

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

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

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

the literary culture

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

a room where books are kept

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

deprived of life; no longer living

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

bordered by a line of things

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

held dear

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

attach a tag or label to

From this reading The deep vertical mark running up the forehead meant sorrow.

the message that is intended or expressed or signified

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading The deep vertical mark running up the forehead meant sorrow.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

not any; not one

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

affix in a public place or for public notice

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

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

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading The deep vertical mark running up the forehead meant sorrow.

Identical; not different.

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

having the beard or hair cut off close to the skin

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading The deep vertical mark running up the forehead meant sorrow.

past form of “stamp” — walk heavily

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

express in words

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

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

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

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

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

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

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The deep vertical mark running up the forehead meant sorrow.

at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line

From this reading The deep vertical mark running up the forehead meant sorrow.

a Roman Catholic priest who acts for another higher-ranking clergyman

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

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

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

at the time that

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

a Caucasian

From this reading It had been stamped there for ever on the night when Hubert, his first-born, had been brought back, cold and lifeless, from the river to which he had hurried forth but an hour before, a picture of happy boyhood, in his white boating flannels.

which person or people

From this reading It was not an old face, but it was deeply lined, and those who knew and loved him best could tell the history and meaning of each of those eloquent tracings.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading The afternoon post had come in, and the Vicar of Renton stood in the large bay window of his library reading his budget of letters.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.

(used as an intensifier) extremely well

From this reading He was a tall, thin man, with a close shaven face, which had no beauty of feature, but which was wonderfully attractive all the same.