A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VI
XVIII. THE NATURE OF BOYS. I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys. One tiresome fact about boys is that they are so much alike; or used to be. They did not wish to be so, but they could not help it.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.”
for the reason that
From this reading “I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “They did not wish to be so, but they could not help it.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “They did not wish to be so, but they could not help it.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “One tiresome fact about boys is that they are so much alike; or used to be.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One tiresome fact about boys is that they are so much alike; or used to be.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading One tiresome fact about boys is that they are so much alike; or used to be.
for the reason that
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NATURE OF BOYS.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They did not wish to be so, but they could not help it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They did not wish to be so, but they could not help it.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They did not wish to be so, but they could not help it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One tiresome fact about boys is that they are so much alike; or used to be.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They did not wish to be so, but they could not help it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One tiresome fact about boys is that they are so much alike; or used to be.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They did not wish to be so, but they could not help it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NATURE OF BOYS.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE NATURE OF BOYS.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One tiresome fact about boys is that they are so much alike; or used to be.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading One tiresome fact about boys is that they are so much alike; or used to be.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One tiresome fact about boys is that they are so much alike; or used to be.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NATURE OF BOYS.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One tiresome fact about boys is that they are so much alike; or used to be.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One tiresome fact about boys is that they are so much alike; or used to be.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I TELL these things about my boy, not so much because they were peculiar to him as because I think they are, many of them, common to all boys.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They did not wish to be so, but they could not help it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XVIII.
