A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVIII
Ann Veronica tried to seem absolutely unconcerned. The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection. She felt she had stepped into a world of unknown usages. “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive. “Won’t you sit down,” she said, “and tell me what you want to say?”
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading ““I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.”
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading ““I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““Won’t you sit down,” she said, “and tell me what you want to say?””
up to a particular time
From this reading ““I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.”
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 She felt she had stepped into a world of unknown usages.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ann Veronica tried to seem absolutely unconcerned.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ann Veronica tried to seem absolutely unconcerned.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Won’t you sit down,” she said, “and tell me what you want to say?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt she had stepped into a world of unknown usages.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She felt she had stepped into a world of unknown usages.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She felt she had stepped into a world of unknown usages.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Won’t you sit down,” she said, “and tell me what you want to say?”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Won’t you sit down,” she said, “and tell me what you want to say?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ann Veronica tried to seem absolutely unconcerned.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Won’t you sit down,” she said, “and tell me what you want to say?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt she had stepped into a world of unknown usages.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Won’t you sit down,” she said, “and tell me what you want to say?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ann Veronica tried to seem absolutely unconcerned.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ann Veronica tried to seem absolutely unconcerned.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The turning of the key startled her, but she did not see how she could make an objection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ann Veronica tried to seem absolutely unconcerned.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt she had stepped into a world of unknown usages.
up to a particular time
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt she had stepped into a world of unknown usages.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ann Veronica tried to seem absolutely unconcerned.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have waited for this,” he said, and stood quite still, looking at her until the silence became oppressive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Won’t you sit down,” she said, “and tell me what you want to say?”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Won’t you sit down,” she said, “and tell me what you want to say?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Won’t you sit down,” she said, “and tell me what you want to say?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt she had stepped into a world of unknown usages.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Won’t you sit down,” she said, “and tell me what you want to say?”
