A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter X
THE DEATH CHAMBER. Nick opened his eyes in darkness. Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around. Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s. His head was throbbing painfully, and he was lying on his bound arms and wrists.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.”
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading “Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.”
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading “Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.”
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His head was throbbing painfully, and he was lying on his bound arms and wrists.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His head was throbbing painfully, and he was lying on his bound arms and wrists.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEATH CHAMBER.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick opened his eyes in darkness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEATH CHAMBER.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick opened his eyes in darkness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His head was throbbing painfully, and he was lying on his bound arms and wrists.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nick opened his eyes in darkness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nick opened his eyes in darkness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His head was throbbing painfully, and he was lying on his bound arms and wrists.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick opened his eyes in darkness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His head was throbbing painfully, and he was lying on his bound arms and wrists.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick opened his eyes in darkness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His head was throbbing painfully, and he was lying on his bound arms and wrists.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a ray of light could be seen at any point in the surrounding gloom, and a silence as of the grave reigned all around.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEATH CHAMBER.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His head was throbbing painfully, and he was lying on his bound arms and wrists.
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Under him was a hard stone floor, and from the dank, moldy smell of the place he thought he must be in a cellar--presumably the basement under Boucicault’s.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His head was throbbing painfully, and he was lying on his bound arms and wrists.
