used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF A SECRET.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
(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 Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
aquilineadjective
curved down like an eagle's beak
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At this time he had just turned his twenty-eighth birthday.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading At this time he had just turned his twenty-eighth birthday.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF A SECRET.
one or the other of two
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
apart from; not including
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
a boy or man
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
gentlemanlyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒentəlmənli/
befitting a man of good breeding
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At this time he had just turned his twenty-eighth birthday.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
happieradjectiveUS /ˈhæpiər/
comparative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At this time he had just turned his twenty-eighth birthday.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
and nothing more
From this reading At this time he had just turned his twenty-eighth birthday.
keen-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
engage in
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
not any; not one
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
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 was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF A SECRET.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF A SECRET.
owingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊɪŋ/
owed as a debt
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
by chance
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
piercingadjectiveUS /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF A SECRET.
shavenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪvən/
having the beard or hair cut off close to the skin
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
steel-gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE EDGE OF A SECRET.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At this time he had just turned his twenty-eighth birthday.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At this time he had just turned his twenty-eighth birthday.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading At this time he had just turned his twenty-eighth birthday.
twenty-eighthadjective
coming next after the twenty-seventh in position
From this reading At this time he had just turned his twenty-eighth birthday.
undisputableadjective
not open to question; obviously true
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
whiskernounUS /ˈwɪskər/
a very small distance or space
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
Winslade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably there was no happier man in all England than Philip Winslade on the particular afternoon on which we make his acquaintance.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
a late time of life
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading He was a thin, active, keen-faced gentlemanly young fellow, with an aquiline nose and very bright and piercing steel-gray eyes.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading In colour his hair was a light brown, and it was perhaps owing to the fact that he was clean shaven, except for an inch of whisker on either cheek, that he looked younger than his years; that he did look so was, however, undisputable.
