Chapter XXV · Chapter 25

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

the state of being absent

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

matters of personal concern

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

Having no one else present.

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

any thing at all

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

the event of one object coming closer to another

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

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

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

(often followed by “to”) giving care or attention

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

taking care or paying attention

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

the person or thing chosen or selected

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

one who is the object of choice; who is given preference

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

a conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

the coloring of a person's face

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

an expert able to appreciate a field; especially in the fine arts

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

your usual mood

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

having or displaying warmth or affection

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

death of a person

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

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

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

past form of “heap” — bestow in large quantities

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

a greenhouse in which plants are arranged in a pleasing manner

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

in a meditative manner

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

bearing in mind; attentive to

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

chosen in preference to another

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

in a singular manner or to a singular degree

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

inflected form of “sip” — drink in sips

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

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

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Behind his chair stood his English butler, grave, solemn-faced, attentive.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

the quality of lacking taste and refinement

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

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

From this reading A NEW VENTURE Phineas Duge, notwithstanding an absence of anything approaching vulgarity in his somewhat complex disposition, was, for a man of affairs and an American, singularly fond of the small elegances of life.

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

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.

fermented juice (of grapes especially)

From this reading His one glass of wine, the best of its sort, he sipped meditatively, and with the air of a connoisseur.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Although he sat alone at dinner, the table was heaped with choice flowers and carefully selected hothouse fruit.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The soft lights upon the table were such as a woman, mindful of her complexion, might have chosen.