used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Thanks, no," murmured Linda; "I can stay only a minute.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was a formality about Miss Blair's manner that did not escape her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Though pleasant enough, she had something in her manner that held Bab effectually at a distance.
Bab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I must be going on directly."
Blair'snounUS /blerz/
possessive form of “blair” — British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953)
From this reading There was a formality about Miss Blair's manner that did not escape her.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Thanks, no," murmured Linda; "I can stay only a minute.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading There was a formality about Miss Blair's manner that did not escape her.
without deviation
From this reading I must be going on directly."
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Though pleasant enough, she had something in her manner that held Bab effectually at a distance.
effectuallyadverb
in an effectual manner
From this reading Though pleasant enough, she had something in her manner that held Bab effectually at a distance.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Though pleasant enough, she had something in her manner that held Bab effectually at a distance.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading There was a formality about Miss Blair's manner that did not escape her.
formalitynounUS /fɔːrˈmæləti/
a requirement of etiquette or custom
From this reading There was a formality about Miss Blair's manner that did not escape her.
the act of departing
From this reading I must be going on directly."
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Though pleasant enough, she had something in her manner that held Bab effectually at a distance.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Though pleasant enough, she had something in her manner that held Bab effectually at a distance.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Thanks, no," murmured Linda; "I can stay only a minute.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
Linda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thanks, no," murmured Linda; "I can stay only a minute.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading There was a formality about Miss Blair's manner that did not escape her.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading "Thanks, no," murmured Linda; "I can stay only a minute.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading There was a formality about Miss Blair's manner that did not escape her.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading "Thanks, no," murmured Linda; "I can stay only a minute.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I must be going on directly."
not any; not one
From this reading "Thanks, no," murmured Linda; "I can stay only a minute.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was a formality about Miss Blair's manner that did not escape her.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I must be going on directly."
and nothing more
From this reading "Thanks, no," murmured Linda; "I can stay only a minute.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading Though pleasant enough, she had something in her manner that held Bab effectually at a distance.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Though pleasant enough, she had something in her manner that held Bab effectually at a distance.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Though pleasant enough, she had something in her manner that held Bab effectually at a distance.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading "Thanks, no," murmured Linda; "I can stay only a minute.
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading "Thanks, no," murmured Linda; "I can stay only a minute.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a formality about Miss Blair's manner that did not escape her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a formality about Miss Blair's manner that did not escape her.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though pleasant enough, she had something in her manner that held Bab effectually at a distance.
someone who visits
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a formality about Miss Blair's manner that did not escape her.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Bab dismissed the butler, and with a growing interest seated herself in a chair opposite her visitor.
