Chapter XI · Chapter 11

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

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

in an abnormal manner

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

in actual fact

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

in addition

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

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

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading A stranger figure than Septimus Searle Lingard has seldom walked the streets of any town.

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

From this reading And nothing in the world else was ever so piercingly solemn as his keen weary old eyes.

past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

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

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

a densely textured woolen fabric with a lustrous finish

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

the act of discovering something

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

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

From this reading And nothing in the world else was ever so piercingly solemn as his keen weary old eyes.

at any time

From this reading And nothing in the world else was ever so piercingly solemn as his keen weary old eyes.

opinion or judgment

From this reading And nothing in the world else was ever so piercingly solemn as his keen weary old eyes.

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

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

easily broken or damaged or destroyed

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

enclose in or as if in a frame

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading A stranger figure than Septimus Searle Lingard has seldom walked the streets of any town.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

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

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

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

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

past form of “hollow” — remove the inner part or the core of

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

the quality of being humane

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading And nothing in the world else was ever so piercingly solemn as his keen weary old eyes.

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

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

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 Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

engage in

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

covered with or smelling of mold

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading And nothing in the world else was ever so piercingly solemn as his keen weary old eyes.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading And nothing in the world else was ever so piercingly solemn as his keen weary old eyes.

characteristic of former times especially in Europe

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

and nothing more

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

above and across; more than

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

unpleasantly

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

a person's partner in marriage

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

plural of “partner” — a person's partner in marriage

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

extremely and sharply

From this reading And nothing in the world else was ever so piercingly solemn as his keen weary old eyes.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

strange in an interesting or pleasing way

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

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

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

not often

From this reading A stranger figure than Septimus Searle Lingard has seldom walked the streets of any town.

older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

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

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

having the beard or hair cut off close to the skin

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

being ten more than fifty

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises

From this reading And nothing in the world else was ever so piercingly solemn as his keen weary old eyes.

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

not in physical motion

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading A stranger figure than Septimus Searle Lingard has seldom walked the streets of any town.

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading A stranger figure than Septimus Searle Lingard has seldom walked the streets of any town.

causing surprise or wonder or amazement

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading A stranger figure than Septimus Searle Lingard has seldom walked the streets of any town.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

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

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

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

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading A stranger figure than Septimus Searle Lingard has seldom walked the streets of any town.

in a vertical position; not sloping

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading A stranger figure than Septimus Searle Lingard has seldom walked the streets of any town.

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

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress

From this reading And nothing in the world else was ever so piercingly solemn as his keen weary old eyes.

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

From this reading HUMANITY IN HIGH PLACES One day, however, Henry was to make the still more surprising discovery, that not only were the clerks human beings, but that one of the partners--only one of them--was also human.

belonging to which person

From this reading He made this discovery about the senior partner, whose old-world figure and quaint name, Septimus Searle Lingard, had, in spite of his severity, attracted him by a certain musty distinction.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading And nothing in the world else was ever so piercingly solemn as his keen weary old eyes.

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Though not actually much over sixty, you would have said he must be a thousand; his abnormally long, narrow, shaven face was so thin and gaunt and hollowed, and his tall, upright figure was so painfully fragile, that his black broadcloth seemed almost too heavy for the worn frame inside it.