One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XII
One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about. Becky Thatcher had stopped coming to school. Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed. He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable. She was ill.
Reading 1/22 · 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.
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading “One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.”
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 One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Becky Thatcher had stopped coming to school.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Becky Thatcher had stopped coming to school.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was ill.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Becky Thatcher had stopped coming to school.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was ill.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Becky Thatcher had stopped coming to school.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Becky Thatcher had stopped coming to school.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to find himself hanging around her father’s house, nights, and feeling very miserable.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the reasons why Tom’s mind had drifted away from its secret troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest itself about.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Tom had struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to “whistle her down the wind,” but failed.
What is the central narrative or theme conveyed in this section of Chapter 12?
Which core linguistic virtue or character attribute is emphasized in this passage?
According to the text: "CHAPTER XXIII....", what tone does the author establish?
