used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If this was a reprieve it was an unwelcome one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
AnthonynounUS /ˈænθəni/
Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “And Miss Molloy?” he asked.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
Blotson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Not at home,” repeated Blotson.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
distastenounUS /dɪˈsteɪst/
a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
doorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/
the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
errandnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
HeritagenounUS /ˈherətədʒ/
practices that are handed down from the past by tradition
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If this was a reprieve it was an unwelcome one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
inquirynounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/
a search for knowledge
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If this was a reprieve it was an unwelcome one.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
lessenedadjectiveUS /ˈlesənd/
impaired by diminution
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
Luttrell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading “And Miss Molloy?” he asked.
Molloy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And Miss Molloy?” he asked.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If this was a reprieve it was an unwelcome one.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
recurring again and again
From this reading “Not at home,” repeated Blotson.
reprievenounUS /riˈpriːv/
a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort
From this reading If this was a reprieve it was an unwelcome one.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If this was a reprieve it was an unwelcome one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He stood now on his own doorstep facing a strange butler, and heard a formal “Not at home,” in response to his inquiry for Lady Heritage.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Anthony Luttrell’s distaste for his errand had certainly not lessened during the long drive from town.
unwelcomeadjectiveUS /ənˈwelkəm/
not welcome; not giving pleasure or received with pleasure
From this reading If this was a reprieve it was an unwelcome one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If this was a reprieve it was an unwelcome one.
