Pronunciations
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/əˈnæn/
Interjection
Expressing incomprehension or doubt; often requesting repetition or clarification, especially as an as an interrogative.
Usage- Obsolete
- Examples
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'You are familiar with the Polynesian, I collect?' asked Stephen. 'Anan, sir?' 'The South Sea language.'
More examples (1)
“There was once [a mother], as in reason; but she has now been dead and sunk these two good years.” “Anan?” said Deerslayer, looking up at his companion in a little surprise. “Dead and sunk, I say, and I hope that's good English. The old fellow lowered his wife into the lake, by way of seeing the last of her, as I can testify, being an eye-witness of the ceremony; but whether Tom did it to save digging, which is no easy job among roots, or out of a consait that water washes away sin sooner than 'arth, is more than I can say.”
“Poor child, in what a den of vice you have been brought up!” “Anan, sir.” “She don’t understand me. Have you been taught to read and write?” “Oh no!”
More examples (4)
“Anan!” cried Briggs, recovering his temper from the perplexity of his understanding, at a discourse to which his ears were wholly unaccustomed, “what d'ye say?”
She called out, however, “Are any of Mr Briggs's servants below?” “Anan!” answered the boy, who came to the foot of the stairs, with a knife in one hand and an old shoe, upon the sole of which he was sharpening it, in the other, “Does any one call?” “Yes,” said Cecilia, “I do; for I could not find the bell.”
This reply converted the looks of the inquirer into a stare of infinite stolidity, accompanied with the word, Anan! which he pronounced in a tone of fear and astonishment.
As he walked along, Strap, at my desire, inquired of a carman, whom we met, whereabouts Mr. Cringer lived: and was answered by a stare, accompanied with the word “Anan!” Upon which I came up, in order to explain the question, but had the misfortune to be unintelligible likewise