used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading When the two had disappeared around the turn, Tullia closed the doors and hurriedly recrossed the atrium.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
assignmentnounUS /əˈsaɪnmənt/
a duty that you are assigned to perform (especially in the armed forces)
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
atriumnounUS /ˈeɪtriəm/
any chamber that is connected to other chambers or passageways (especially one of the two upper chambers of the heart)
From this reading When the two had disappeared around the turn, Tullia closed the doors and hurriedly recrossed the atrium.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading A freshly starched napkin covered the food in the basket she carried.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading A freshly starched napkin covered the food in the basket she carried.
Castra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading When the two had disappeared around the turn, Tullia closed the doors and hurriedly recrossed the atrium.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading A freshly starched napkin covered the food in the basket she carried.
delayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/
not as far along as normal in development
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
the act of departing
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading When the two had disappeared around the turn, Tullia closed the doors and hurriedly recrossed the atrium.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When the two had disappeared around the turn, Tullia closed the doors and hurriedly recrossed the atrium.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
emergeverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒ/
come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading A freshly starched napkin covered the food in the basket she carried.
fortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
freshlyadverbUS /ˈfreʃli/
very recently
From this reading A freshly starched napkin covered the food in the basket she carried.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the two had disappeared around the turn, Tullia closed the doors and hurriedly recrossed the atrium.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading When the two had disappeared around the turn, Tullia closed the doors and hurriedly recrossed the atrium.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
and nothing more
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A moment later she slipped out through the servants’ entrance.
Longinus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
a particular point in time
From this reading A moment later she slipped out through the servants’ entrance.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
napkinnounUS /ˈnæpkɪn/
a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to cover the lap in order to protect clothing
From this reading A freshly starched napkin covered the food in the basket she carried.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A moment later she slipped out through the servants’ entrance.
peepingverbUS /ˈpiːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “peep” — look furtively
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
Piso's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
Praetoria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
Prefect's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
with speed
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
recrossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the two had disappeared around the turn, Tullia closed the doors and hurriedly recrossed the atrium.
cut with a saw
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
SenatornounUS /ˈsenətər/
a member of a senate
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading A moment later she slipped out through the servants’ entrance.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A moment later she slipped out through the servants’ entrance.
do one's shopping
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading A moment later she slipped out through the servants’ entrance.
slitnounUS /slɪt/
a long narrow opening
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
starchedverbUS /stɑːrtʃt/
past form of “starch” — stiffen with starch
From this reading A freshly starched napkin covered the food in the basket she carried.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
Tullia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tullia, peeping through the slit in the doorway, saw the Prefect’s man emerge from the shadows of a shop entrance and move off quickly to follow her.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading When the two had disappeared around the turn, Tullia closed the doors and hurriedly recrossed the atrium.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading When the two had disappeared around the turn, Tullia closed the doors and hurriedly recrossed the atrium.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading An unexpected assignment, fortunately, had delayed Longinus’ departure from Castra Praetoria, and he had just reached home when Tullia arrived at Senator Piso’s.
at the time that
From this reading When the two had disappeared around the turn, Tullia closed the doors and hurriedly recrossed the atrium.
