used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I could never see the consul, and began to regard him as a myth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Weeks passed, and I remained in Liverpool.
ante-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Nor could I get any satisfactory information from the well-dressed Englishman, his head clerk.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I could never see the consul, and began to regard him as a myth.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I could never see the consul, and began to regard him as a myth.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading Nor could I get any satisfactory information from the well-dressed Englishman, his head clerk.
clerksnounUS /klɜːrks/
plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
consulnounUS /ˈkɑːnsəl/
a diplomat appointed by a government to protect its commercial interests and help its citizens in a foreign country
From this reading I could never see the consul, and began to regard him as a myth.
consulatenounUS /ˈkɑːnsələt/
diplomatic building that serves as the residence or workplace of a consul
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could never see the consul, and began to regard him as a myth.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
elegantlyadverbUS /ˈelɪɡəntliː/
with elegance; in a tastefully elegant manner
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading Nor could I get any satisfactory information from the well-dressed Englishman, his head clerk.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Nor could I get any satisfactory information from the well-dressed Englishman, his head clerk.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Nor could I get any satisfactory information from the well-dressed Englishman, his head clerk.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I could never see the consul, and began to regard him as a myth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Weeks passed, and I remained in Liverpool.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Weeks passed, and I remained in Liverpool.
a message received and understood
From this reading Nor could I get any satisfactory information from the well-dressed Englishman, his head clerk.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
LiverpoolnounUS /ˈlɪvərpuːl/
a large city in northwestern England; its port is the country's major outlet for industrial exports
From this reading Weeks passed, and I remained in Liverpool.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
mythnounUS /mɪθ/
a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people
From this reading I could never see the consul, and began to regard him as a myth.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I could never see the consul, and began to regard him as a myth.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor could I get any satisfactory information from the well-dressed Englishman, his head clerk.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
held or filled or in use
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Weeks passed, and I remained in Liverpool.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading I could never see the consul, and began to regard him as a myth.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Weeks passed, and I remained in Liverpool.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
Identical; not different.
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading Nor could I get any satisfactory information from the well-dressed Englishman, his head clerk.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I could never see the consul, and began to regard him as a myth.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I could never see the consul, and began to regard him as a myth.
ungraciousadjective
lacking charm and good taste
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Weeks passed, and I remained in Liverpool.
well-dressedadjective
having tasteful clothing and being scrupulously neat
From this reading Nor could I get any satisfactory information from the well-dressed Englishman, his head clerk.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I did not then know that every time I called he was seated at his comfortable desk in a room elegantly furnished, which was entered from the ante-room occupied by his clerks.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I had called several times at the consulate, and each time met with the same ungracious reception.
