used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
in addition
From this reading He had his father's stature and strength of limb, but some of his mother's qualities had also been inherited by him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Willy's elder brother, Ralph, more nearly resembled his father.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had his father's stature and strength of limb, but some of his mother's qualities had also been inherited by him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had his father's stature and strength of limb, but some of his mother's qualities had also been inherited by him.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
claimsnounUS /kleɪmz/
plural of “claim” — an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
comelinessnoun
the quality of being good looking and attractive
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
curlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrli/
(of hair) having curls or waves
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading Willy's elder brother, Ralph, more nearly resembled his father.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Willy's elder brother, Ralph, more nearly resembled his father.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He had his father's stature and strength of limb, but some of his mother's qualities had also been inherited by him.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
a young female
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had his father's stature and strength of limb, but some of his mother's qualities had also been inherited by him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
inheritedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈherətɪd/
occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
From this reading He had his father's stature and strength of limb, but some of his mother's qualities had also been inherited by him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
immediately past
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
limbnounUS /lɪm/
one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading He had his father's stature and strength of limb, but some of his mother's qualities had also been inherited by him.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
a particular point in time
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Willy's elder brother, Ralph, more nearly resembled his father.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He had his father's stature and strength of limb, but some of his mother's qualities had also been inherited by him.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Willy's elder brother, Ralph, more nearly resembled his father.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading He had his father's stature and strength of limb, but some of his mother's qualities had also been inherited by him.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willy's elder brother, Ralph, more nearly resembled his father.
resembledverbUS /rɪˈzembəld/
past form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading Willy's elder brother, Ralph, more nearly resembled his father.
scholarnounUS /ˈskɒl.ər/
A specialist in a particular branch of study; a distinguished student.
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
an educational institution
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He had his father's stature and strength of limb, but some of his mother's qualities had also been inherited by him.
staturenounUS /ˈstætʃər/
high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement
From this reading He had his father's stature and strength of limb, but some of his mother's qualities had also been inherited by him.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading He had his father's stature and strength of limb, but some of his mother's qualities had also been inherited by him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
at the time that
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
Willy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was as if nature had down to the last moment meant Willy for a girl.
Willy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willy's elder brother, Ralph, more nearly resembled his father.
Wythburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been an apt scholar at school, and was one of the few persons in Wythburn having claims to education.
a late time of life
From this reading When the years gave a thin curly beard to his cheek they took nothing from its delicate comeliness.
