A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing." Which I very gladly do; for three reasons. In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it. Secondly, it is about some one very dear to me, as will appear hereafter. Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
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 “In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.”
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Secondly, it is about some one very dear to me, as will appear hereafter.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Which I very gladly do; for three reasons.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."”
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 When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, it is about some one very dear to me, as will appear hereafter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Secondly, it is about some one very dear to me, as will appear hereafter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, it is about some one very dear to me, as will appear hereafter.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Which I very gladly do; for three reasons.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which I very gladly do; for three reasons.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, it is about some one very dear to me, as will appear hereafter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Which I very gladly do; for three reasons.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Secondly, it is about some one very dear to me, as will appear hereafter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Which I very gladly do; for three reasons.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, it is about some one very dear to me, as will appear hereafter.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, it is about some one very dear to me, as will appear hereafter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the first place, it is about myself, and so I take an interest in it.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which I very gladly do; for three reasons.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which I very gladly do; for three reasons.
at the time that
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Which I very gladly do; for three reasons.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Secondly, it is about some one very dear to me, as will appear hereafter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Thirdly, it is the only original story in my somewhat limited collection, and I am naturally rather proud of the favour with which it is invariably received.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you bought a flat iron for a farthing."
