used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
on or to one side
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The latter was much better dressed than when Paul last saw him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
an occurrence of something
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading The latter was much better dressed than when Paul last saw him.
entitledadjectiveUS /enˈtaɪtəld/
qualified for by right according to law
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The latter was much better dressed than when Paul last saw him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
immediately past
From this reading The latter was much better dressed than when Paul last saw him.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter was much better dressed than when Paul last saw him.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The latter was much better dressed than when Paul last saw him.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
pensionnounUS /ˈpenʃən/
a regular payment to a person that is intended to allow them to subsist without working
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
purchasedverbUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəst/
past form of “purchase” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
ready-madeadjective
made for purchase and immediate use
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
cut with a saw
From this reading The latter was much better dressed than when Paul last saw him.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
soiledadjectiveUS /sɔɪld/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
step-brother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The latter was much better dressed than when Paul last saw him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The latter was much better dressed than when Paul last saw him.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
(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 He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
at the time that
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had thrown aside the shabby and soiled suit, which had seen service so long that it looked entitled to be relieved upon a pension.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Paul was on his way home, when, in turning a corner, he came face to face with his step-brother, Stephen.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He wore now a new suit, which did not fit him particularly well, having evidently been purchased at a ready-made clothing store, but it was at least new, and made Stephen look as respectable as the nature of the case would admit.
