Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

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

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

plural of “banana” — any of several tropical and subtropical treelike herbs of the genus Musa having a terminal crown of large entire leaves and usually bearing hanging clusters of elongated fruits

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

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

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

maintain with or as if with a bet

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

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

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits

From this reading Fate sent him a cab, from which popped a miniature edition of the man from Georgia.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

common black-and-grey Eurasian bird noted for thievery

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

the operator of a motor vehicle

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

take in solid food

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published

From this reading Fate sent him a cab, from which popped a miniature edition of the man from Georgia.

plural of “egyptian” — a native or inhabitant of Egypt

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

an agenda of things to do

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading Fate sent him a cab, from which popped a miniature edition of the man from Georgia.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

a man of refinement

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

a state in southeastern United States; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

destroyed or killed

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

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

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

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 He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

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

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

third-person singular of “hear” — perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

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

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

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

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

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

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

as a matter of instinct

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

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 was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

the state of being alone in solitary isolation

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

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

From this reading Fate sent him a cab, from which popped a miniature edition of the man from Georgia.

the force of workers available

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)

From this reading Fate sent him a cab, from which popped a miniature edition of the man from Georgia.

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

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

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

inflected form of “pop” — bulge outward

From this reading Fate sent him a cab, from which popped a miniature edition of the man from Georgia.

influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

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

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading Fate sent him a cab, from which popped a miniature edition of the man from Georgia.

of a white that resembles silver

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

being ten more than fifty

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

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

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

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

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

the process of becoming spoiled

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

for a limited time only; not permanently

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

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

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

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

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

create by training and teaching

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

precisely as stated

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

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

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

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

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

(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 IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

which person or people

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.

showing curiosity

From this reading Moreover, his friend from Georgia was gone, and quite disconsolate, for him, he stood in front of the hotel wondering about his next move.

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading IN WHICH J. RUFUS HEARS OF SOME EGYPTIANS WORTH SPOILING It was in a spirit of considerable loneliness that Wallingford came back from seeing Blackie Daw to the midnight train, for he had grown to like Blackie very well indeed.

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

From this reading The new-comer, who had not waited for the cab door to be opened for him, immediately offered to bet his driver the price of the fare that the horse would eat bananas.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading He was a small, clean, elderly gentleman, of silvery-white hair and mustache, who must have been near sixty, but who possessed, temporarily at least, the youth and spirits of thirty; and he was one of that sort of looking men to whom one instinctively gives a title.