used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
(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 Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
appealingadjectiveUS /əˈpiːlɪŋ/
able to attract interest or draw favorable attention
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
Bersonin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
Bersonin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All Bersonin's talk had held an evil lure.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a flag that shows its nationality
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
daintinessnoun
the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
the act of consuming liquids
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading All Bersonin's talk had held an evil lure.
examiningverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
experimentersnounUS /ɪkˈsperəmentərz/
plural of “experimenter” — a research worker who conducts experiments
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
extravagantadjectiveUS /ekˈstrævəɡənt/
unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
the organ of sight
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
foremostadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmoʊst/
ranking above all others
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
geishanounUS /ˈɡeɪʃə/
a Japanese woman trained to entertain men with conversation and singing and dancing
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
girlishadjectiveUS /ˈɡɜːrlɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young girl
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
gourmetnounUS /ˈɡʊrmeɪ/
a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink)
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading All Bersonin's talk had held an evil lure.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
impassiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpæsɪv/
having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
lurenounUS /lʊr/
qualities that attract by seeming to promise some kind of reward
From this reading All Bersonin's talk had held an evil lure.
luxurynounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəri/
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
microscopenounUS /ˈmaɪkrəskoʊp/
magnifier of the image of small objects
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
a brief written record
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
originnounUS /ˈɔːrədʒən/
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
overweeningadjective
unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
perfumesnounUS /pərˈfjuːmz/
plural of “perfume” — a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
Phil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
Phil's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
PIPESnounUS /paɪps/
plural of “pipe” — a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
pleasuresnounUS /ˈpleʒərz/
plural of “pleasure” — a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
sensualadjectiveUS /ˈsenʃəwəl/
marked by the appetites and passions of the body
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
slidenounUS /slaɪd/
a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
strolledverbUS /stroʊld/
past form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
studyingnounUS /ˈstʌdiɪŋ/
reading carefully with intent to remember
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
plural of “subject” — the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
swarmingverbUS /ˈswɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
moving very fast
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
sybariticadjective
displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading All Bersonin's talk had held an evil lure.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
having come into contact
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
vagariesnounUS /ˈveɪɡəriz/
plural of “vagary” — an unexpected and inexplicable change in something (in a situation or a person's behavior, etc.)
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
watchfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɑːtʃfəl/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading The swift gleam in Phil's eye as he watched the _geisha_, the eager drinking in of the girlish daintiness, the colors and perfumes to which he stretched himself like a cat--the watchful, impassive eyes took note of everything.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
white-flanneled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE DEVIL PIPES TO HIS OWN Doctor Bersonin, huge and white-flanneled, with Phil by his side, strolled away through the swarming crowd.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading Not a word, not a glance of the younger man that evening, had escaped him--he had been studying him with all the minute attention of that great, overweening brain that, from an origin of which he never spoke, had made him one of the foremost experimenters in Europe.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading It had touched on the extravagant and sensual vagaries of luxury, the sybaritic pleasures of the social _gourmet_, subjects appealing to the imagination of the youth whom he was examining like a slide under the microscope.
