used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
how long something has existed
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
(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 At first Sir Philip Hastings did not like him at all.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first Sir Philip Hastings did not like him at all.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
conspicuousadjectiveUS /kənˈspɪkjuːəs/
obvious to the eye or mind
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading At first Sir Philip Hastings did not like him at all.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
exaggerationnounUS /ɪɡˌzædʒərˈeɪʃən/
extravagant exaggeration
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first Sir Philip Hastings did not like him at all.
furrows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
gaitnounUS /ɡeɪt/
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
growsverbUS /ɡroʊz/
third-person singular of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
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 He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
HastingsnounUS /ˈheɪstɪŋz/
United States architect who formed and important architectural firm with John Merven Carrere (1860-1929)
From this reading At first Sir Philip Hastings did not like him at all.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At first Sir Philip Hastings did not like him at all.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
a native or inhabitant of Italy
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading At first Sir Philip Hastings did not like him at all.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
on one occasion
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading At first Sir Philip Hastings did not like him at all.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
singing-master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
term of address for a man
From this reading At first Sir Philip Hastings did not like him at all.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
in the near future
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
speckledadjectiveUS /ˈspekəld/
having a pattern of dots
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
twinklingnounUS /ˈtwɪŋkəlɪŋ/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
uglinessnounUS /ˈʌɡlinəs/
qualities of appearance that do not give pleasure to the senses
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
voluminousadjectiveUS /vəˈluːmənəs/
large in volume or bulk
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
(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 The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was tall and thin, but well built; and his face had probably once been very handsome, in that Italian style, which, by the exaggeration of age, grows so soon into ugliness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The nose was now large and conspicuous, the eyes bright, black, and twinkling, the mouth good in shape, but with an animal expression about it, the ear very voluminous.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading The Italian singing-master was a peculiar man, and well worthy of a few words in description.
wrinklesnounUS /ˈrɪŋkəlz/
plural of “wrinkle” — a slight depression or fold in the smoothness of a surface
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
a late time of life
From this reading He was somewhat more than fifty years of age, and his hair was speckled with gray; but age was not apparent in wrinkles and furrows, and in gait he was firm and upright.
