used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
at or in the front
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He stopped at the sight of me and looked me up and down at least as curiously as I studied him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
conductedverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/
past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading Only I trust I conducted my inspection less obviously.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
curiouslyadverbUS /ˈkjʊriəsli/
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading He stopped at the sight of me and looked me up and down at least as curiously as I studied him.
decidedlyadverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdədli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
dislikedadjectiveUS /dɪˈslaɪkt/
regarded with aversion
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He stopped at the sight of me and looked me up and down at least as curiously as I studied him.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
a man of refinement
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
the act of departing
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He stopped at the sight of me and looked me up and down at least as curiously as I studied him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
impudencenoun
an impudent statement
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
inspectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃən/
a formal or official examination
From this reading Only I trust I conducted my inspection less obviously.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
and nothing more
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading He stopped at the sight of me and looked me up and down at least as curiously as I studied him.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Only I trust I conducted my inspection less obviously.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He stopped at the sight of me and looked me up and down at least as curiously as I studied him.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Only I trust I conducted my inspection less obviously.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
and nothing more
From this reading Only I trust I conducted my inspection less obviously.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
precisely, exactly
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
express in words
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading He stopped at the sight of me and looked me up and down at least as curiously as I studied him.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
not in physical motion
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading He stopped at the sight of me and looked me up and down at least as curiously as I studied him.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading He stopped at the sight of me and looked me up and down at least as curiously as I studied him.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading I can't exactly say that his was a face I disliked, but it was decidedly not one I took to.
trimmedadjectiveUS /trɪmd/
made neat and tidy by trimming
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading Only I trust I conducted my inspection less obviously.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He stopped at the sight of me and looked me up and down at least as curiously as I studied him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
at the time that
From this reading I was at the front door and just going to ring, when round the corner of the house, right ahead of me, appeared a gentleman, and my spirits fell still further.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had eyes set somewhat close together, a well trimmed short black beard, and an expression in which I seemed to read impudence and certainly read suspicion.
