used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Betty stifled a sigh, but she waited dutifully and greeted the lady with sweet formality.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But as she would have started, she saw Mrs. Phillips, dressed for the carriage, about to descend the grand stairway.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But as she would have started, she saw Mrs. Phillips, dressed for the carriage, about to descend the grand stairway.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading She asked for him in her polite, old-womanly fashion and was told to go right up.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But as she would have started, she saw Mrs. Phillips, dressed for the carriage, about to descend the grand stairway.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading But as she would have started, she saw Mrs. Phillips, dressed for the carriage, about to descend the grand stairway.
descendverbUS /dɪˈsend/
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading But as she would have started, she saw Mrs. Phillips, dressed for the carriage, about to descend the grand stairway.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading But as she would have started, she saw Mrs. Phillips, dressed for the carriage, about to descend the grand stairway.
dutifullyadverbUS /ˈduːtifəli/
out of a sense of duty; in a dutiful manner
From this reading Betty stifled a sigh, but she waited dutifully and greeted the lady with sweet formality.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She asked for him in her polite, old-womanly fashion and was told to go right up.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
formalitynounUS /fɔːrˈmæləti/
a requirement of etiquette or custom
From this reading Betty stifled a sigh, but she waited dutifully and greeted the lady with sweet formality.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She asked for him in her polite, old-womanly fashion and was told to go right up.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading But as she would have started, she saw Mrs. Phillips, dressed for the carriage, about to descend the grand stairway.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading Betty stifled a sigh, but she waited dutifully and greeted the lady with sweet formality.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She asked for him in her polite, old-womanly fashion and was told to go right up.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
imposingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
impressive in appearance
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She asked for him in her polite, old-womanly fashion and was told to go right up.
infirmitynounUS /ɪnˈfɜːrmɪti/
the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Betty stifled a sigh, but she waited dutifully and greeted the lady with sweet formality.
latter'snounUS /ˈlætərz/
possessive form of “latter” — the second of two or the second mentioned of two
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
Meadowcroft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading But as she would have started, she saw Mrs. Phillips, dressed for the carriage, about to descend the grand stairway.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
old-womanly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She asked for him in her polite, old-womanly fashion and was told to go right up.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
Phillips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But as she would have started, she saw Mrs. Phillips, dressed for the carriage, about to descend the grand stairway.
politeadjectiveUS /pəˈlaɪt/
showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
From this reading She asked for him in her polite, old-womanly fashion and was told to go right up.
precisely, exactly
From this reading She asked for him in her polite, old-womanly fashion and was told to go right up.
cut with a saw
From this reading But as she would have started, she saw Mrs. Phillips, dressed for the carriage, about to descend the grand stairway.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading Betty stifled a sigh, but she waited dutifully and greeted the lady with sweet formality.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading But as she would have started, she saw Mrs. Phillips, dressed for the carriage, about to descend the grand stairway.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But as she would have started, she saw Mrs. Phillips, dressed for the carriage, about to descend the grand stairway.
stifledadjectiveUS /ˈstaɪfəld/
held in check with difficulty
From this reading Betty stifled a sigh, but she waited dutifully and greeted the lady with sweet formality.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading Betty stifled a sigh, but she waited dutifully and greeted the lady with sweet formality.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Who’s this!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She asked for him in her polite, old-womanly fashion and was told to go right up.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading She asked for him in her polite, old-womanly fashion and was told to go right up.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She asked for him in her polite, old-womanly fashion and was told to go right up.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Betty stifled a sigh, but she waited dutifully and greeted the lady with sweet formality.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
which person or people
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
Who's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Who’s this!
in the company of; together with
From this reading Betty stifled a sigh, but she waited dutifully and greeted the lady with sweet formality.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading THE man who opened the door was so fine and imposing that Betty would have taken him for Mr. Meadowcroft if she hadn’t known of the latter’s infirmity.
