A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
They seemed amazingly busy. I began to ask myself what they could be. Were they intelligent mechanisms? Such a thing I felt was impossible. Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “They seemed amazingly busy.”
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 Such a thing I felt was impossible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They seemed amazingly busy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I began to ask myself what they could be.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I began to ask myself what they could be.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I began to ask myself what they could be.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They seemed amazingly busy.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I began to ask myself what they could be.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a thing I felt was impossible.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I began to ask myself what they could be.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a thing I felt was impossible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were they intelligent mechanisms?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were they intelligent mechanisms?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I began to ask myself what they could be.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They seemed amazingly busy.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a thing I felt was impossible.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They seemed amazingly busy.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Such a thing I felt was impossible.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I began to ask myself what they could be.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such a thing I felt was impossible.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Were they intelligent mechanisms?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I began to ask myself what they could be.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man’s brain sits and rules in his body?
