used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
the state of being absent
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
affectationnounUS /ˌæfekˈteɪʃən/
a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
Alison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
(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 She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
apologiseverbUS /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪz/
defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
From this reading ’I apologise for my intrusion,’ said Herries.
Archibald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
clear-cutadjectiveUS /ˈklɪrkʌt/
clearly or sharply defined to the mind
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
eyebrowsnounUS /ˈaɪbraʊz/
plural of “eyebrow” — the arch of hair above each eye
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
opinion or judgment
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
fascinatedadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtəd/
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
finelyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnli/
in tiny pieces
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
flourishverbUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃ/
grow vigorously
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ’I apologise for my intrusion,’ said Herries.
made afraid
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
frillsnounUS /frɪlz/
plural of “frill” — (paleontology) a bony plate that curves upward behind the skull of many ceratopsian dinosaurs
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
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 She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
Herries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’I apologise for my intrusion,’ said Herries.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ’I apologise for my intrusion,’ said Herries.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
intrusionnounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːʒən/
any entry into an area not previously occupied
From this reading ’I apologise for my intrusion,’ said Herries.
ironically-arched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
lacedadjectiveUS /leɪst/
closed with a lace
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
Letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
Maclehose's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ’I apologise for my intrusion,’ said Herries.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
pencilledadjective
drawn or written with a pencil
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
personagenoun
another word for person; a person not meriting identification
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ’I apologise for my intrusion,’ said Herries.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
smartlyadverbUS /ˈsmɑːrtli/
in a clever manner
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading How fine and delicate and clear-cut were his features, how cold and keen his blue eyes, under those ironically-arched and finely pencilled eyebrows.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He bowed, with the accustomed little flourish and affectation of the day, and Alison stole a look at him half frightened and half fascinated.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She had never seen so fine a personage as this young man in all her days, with his smartly cut, if sober, coat—his laced frills, the powder in his hair, the ring upon his finger.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ’Let me present myself, in Mrs. Maclehose’s absence—her cousin, and your servant, Archibald Herries.’
