A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice. What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man? Or had he been a different kind of a man before he came in? How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job? What could such an existence do to a man?
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Or had he been a different kind of a man before he came in?”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Or had he been a different kind of a man before he came in?”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?”
causing pain or showing no kindness
From this reading “Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Or had he been a different kind of a man before he came in?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?”
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 What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading What could such an existence do to a man?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Or had he been a different kind of a man before he came in?
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Or had he been a different kind of a man before he came in?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or had he been a different kind of a man before he came in?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?
causing pain or showing no kindness
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Or had he been a different kind of a man before he came in?
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What could such an existence do to a man?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What could such an existence do to a man?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Or had he been a different kind of a man before he came in?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Or had he been a different kind of a man before he came in?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Or had he been a different kind of a man before he came in?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading What could such an existence do to a man?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jeff felt his face paling at the cruel eagerness in the little man's voice.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long had he been here, waiting from experiment to experiment, waiting to live or to die, waiting for the payoff, the Big Cash that waited at the end of a job?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What could bring a man to a place like this--especially this kind of a man?
