used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
AdmiraltynounUS /ˈædmərəlti/
the department in charge of the navy (as in Great Britain)
From this reading "The Admiralty could do no less, Mr. Dickson.
allowancenounUS /əˈlaʊəns/
an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period)
From this reading "A commission for both of them and a special allowance, did you say, Lord William?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
beggarsnounUS /ˈbeɡərz/
plural of “beggar” — a pauper who lives by begging
From this reading "The young beggars!" he said, "the young beggars!" and there was a catch in his voice.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
the two together, not just one
From this reading "A commission for both of them and a special allowance, did you say, Lord William?"
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "The young beggars!" he said, "the young beggars!" and there was a catch in his voice.
clericaladjectiveUS /ˈklerəkəl/
of or relating to clerks
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
clothing in general
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
commissionnounUS /kəˈmɪʃən/
a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading "A commission for both of them and a special allowance, did you say, Lord William?"
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "The Admiralty could do no less, Mr. Dickson.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
Dickson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Admiralty could do no less, Mr. Dickson.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "A commission for both of them and a special allowance, did you say, Lord William?"
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "The Admiralty could do no less, Mr. Dickson.
opinion or judgment
From this reading It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "A commission for both of them and a special allowance, did you say, Lord William?"
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 It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "The young beggars!" he said, "the young beggars!" and there was a catch in his voice.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading "The Admiralty could do no less, Mr. Dickson.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading "A commission for both of them and a special allowance, did you say, Lord William?"
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "The Admiralty could do no less, Mr. Dickson.
not any; not one
From this reading "The Admiralty could do no less, Mr. Dickson.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "A commission for both of them and a special allowance, did you say, Lord William?"
pinchedadjectiveUS /pɪntʃt/
sounding as if the nose were pinched
From this reading It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
on the contrary
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/
covered with or consisting of rust
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "The young beggars!" he said, "the young beggars!" and there was a catch in his voice.
express in words
From this reading "A commission for both of them and a special allowance, did you say, Lord William?"
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading "A commission for both of them and a special allowance, did you say, Lord William?"
the rays of the sun
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "A commission for both of them and a special allowance, did you say, Lord William?"
in or at that place or location
From this reading "The young beggars!" he said, "the young beggars!" and there was a catch in his voice.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "The young beggars!" he said, "the young beggars!" and there was a catch in his voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His black, clerical clothes were rather rusty in the bright morning sunlight, though they were his best.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A commission for both of them and a special allowance, did you say, Lord William?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a tall man with black hair, dark eyes and a pinched face.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "A commission for both of them and a special allowance, did you say, Lord William?"
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "The young beggars!" he said, "the young beggars!" and there was a catch in his voice.
