A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
A PITIFUL INCIDENT It's a world of surprises. The king brooded; this was natural. What would he brood about, should you say? Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest. No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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 “What would he brood about, should you say?”
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading “Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “What would he brood about, should you say?”
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 A PITIFUL INCIDENT It's a world of surprises.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading What would he brood about, should you say?
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What would he brood about, should you say?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The king brooded; this was natural.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What would he brood about, should you say?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PITIFUL INCIDENT It's a world of surprises.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PITIFUL INCIDENT It's a world of surprises.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The king brooded; this was natural.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The king brooded; this was natural.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
not any; not one
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A PITIFUL INCIDENT It's a world of surprises.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PITIFUL INCIDENT It's a world of surprises.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What would he brood about, should you say?
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading What would he brood about, should you say?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PITIFUL INCIDENT It's a world of surprises.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The king brooded; this was natural.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The king brooded; this was natural.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The king brooded; this was natural.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What would he brood about, should you say?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, about the prodigious nature of his fall, of course--from the loftiest place in the world to the lowest; from the most illustrious station in the world to the obscurest; from the grandest vocation among men to the basest.
in the company of; together with
From this reading No, I take my oath that the thing that graveled him most, to start with, was not this, but the price he had fetched!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PITIFUL INCIDENT It's a world of surprises.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading What would he brood about, should you say?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading What would he brood about, should you say?
