used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mr. Franklin Purvis was our hired man--an undersized bachelor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading How they stimulated the cheerfulness of the old countryside and broke up its natural reticence!
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
bachelornounUS /ˈbætʃələr/
a man who has never been married
From this reading Mr. Franklin Purvis was our hired man--an undersized bachelor.
brightenverbUS /ˈbraɪtən/
make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
bristlingverbUS /ˈbrɪsəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “bristle” — be in a state of movement or action
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
lacking funds
From this reading How they stimulated the cheerfulness of the old countryside and broke up its natural reticence!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
cheerfulnessnounUS /ˈtʃɪrfəlnəs/
the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom
From this reading How they stimulated the cheerfulness of the old countryside and broke up its natural reticence!
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
countrysidenounUS /ˈkʌntrisaɪd/
rural regions
From this reading How they stimulated the cheerfulness of the old countryside and broke up its natural reticence!
enhancedadjectiveUS /enˈhænst/
increased or intensified in value or beauty or quality
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
FranklinnounUS /ˈfræŋklɪn/
United States historian noted for studies of Black American history (born in 1915)
From this reading Mr. Franklin Purvis was our hired man--an undersized bachelor.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading Mr. Franklin Purvis was our hired man--an undersized bachelor.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading How they stimulated the cheerfulness of the old countryside and broke up its natural reticence!
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Mr. Franklin Purvis was our hired man--an undersized bachelor.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
the force of workers available
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Franklin Purvis was our hired man--an undersized bachelor.
mustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/
an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading How they stimulated the cheerfulness of the old countryside and broke up its natural reticence!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading How they stimulated the cheerfulness of the old countryside and broke up its natural reticence!
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Mr. Franklin Purvis was our hired man--an undersized bachelor.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
PERILnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
Purvis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
reticencenounUS /ˈretɪsəns/
the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary
From this reading How they stimulated the cheerfulness of the old countryside and broke up its natural reticence!
retreatingverbUS /riˈtriːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
RomanadjectiveUS /ˈroʊmən/
relating to or characteristic of people of Rome
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
stimulatedadjectiveUS /ˈstɪmjəleɪtɪd/
emotionally aroused
From this reading How they stimulated the cheerfulness of the old countryside and broke up its natural reticence!
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
undersizedadjectiveUS /ˈʌndərsaɪzd/
smaller than normal for its kind
From this reading Mr. Franklin Purvis was our hired man--an undersized bachelor.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading How they stimulated the cheerfulness of the old countryside and broke up its natural reticence!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Franklin Purvis was our hired man--an undersized bachelor.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading MY SECOND PERIL We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin.
