Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The man was evidently poor, for his clothes were shabby and his boots were down at heel.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading His clean-shaven eagle face was sallow, his eyes were dark, his eyebrows black and straight.

plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading The man was evidently poor, for his clothes were shabby and his boots were down at heel.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

closely shaved recently

From this reading His clean-shaven eagle face was sallow, his eyes were dark, his eyebrows black and straight.

clothing in general

From this reading The man was evidently poor, for his clothes were shabby and his boots were down at heel.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading His clean-shaven eagle face was sallow, his eyes were dark, his eyebrows black and straight.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The man was evidently poor, for his clothes were shabby and his boots were down at heel.

any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight

From this reading His clean-shaven eagle face was sallow, his eyes were dark, his eyebrows black and straight.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading The man was evidently poor, for his clothes were shabby and his boots were down at heel.

plural of “eyebrow” — the arch of hair above each eye

From this reading His clean-shaven eagle face was sallow, his eyes were dark, his eyebrows black and straight.

opinion or judgment

From this reading His clean-shaven eagle face was sallow, his eyes were dark, his eyebrows black and straight.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading His clean-shaven eagle face was sallow, his eyes were dark, his eyebrows black and straight.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading He passed up the few steps into the hall and stood thoughtfully before the indicator.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The man was evidently poor, for his clothes were shabby and his boots were down at heel.

a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country

From this reading He was as evidently a foreigner.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading He passed up the few steps into the hall and stood thoughtfully before the indicator.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He was as evidently a foreigner.

the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

From this reading The man was evidently poor, for his clothes were shabby and his boots were down at heel.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The man was evidently poor, for his clothes were shabby and his boots were down at heel.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

impressive in appearance

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

a number or ratio (a value on a scale of measurement) derived from a series of observed facts; can reveal relative changes as a function of time

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He passed up the few steps into the hall and stood thoughtfully before the indicator.

lacking determination or decisiveness

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

amounting to a large indefinite number

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading He passed up the few steps into the hall and stood thoughtfully before the indicator.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading The man was evidently poor, for his clothes were shabby and his boots were down at heel.

plural of “portal” — a grand and imposing entrance (often extended metaphorically)

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

plural of “profession” — the body of people in a learned occupation

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

unhealthy looking

From this reading His clean-shaven eagle face was sallow, his eyes were dark, his eyebrows black and straight.

showing signs of wear and tear

From this reading The man was evidently poor, for his clothes were shabby and his boots were down at heel.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading He passed up the few steps into the hall and stood thoughtfully before the indicator.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

successive (without a break)

From this reading His clean-shaven eagle face was sallow, his eyes were dark, his eyebrows black and straight.

plural of “tenant” — someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

inflected form of “testify” — give testimony in a court of law

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

in a thoughtful manner

From this reading He passed up the few steps into the hall and stood thoughtfully before the indicator.

covered or furnished with tiles

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading He passed up the few steps into the hall and stood thoughtfully before the indicator.

a large entrance or reception room or area

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading A man stood irresolutely before the imposing portals of Cainbury House, a large office building let out to numerous small tenants, and harbouring, as the indicator on the tiled wall of the vestibule testified, some thirty different professions.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The man was evidently poor, for his clothes were shabby and his boots were down at heel.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The man was evidently poor, for his clothes were shabby and his boots were down at heel.