A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales. For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket. When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence. And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap. The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.
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 “When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.”
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.”
prepared and equipped for a particular purpose
From this reading “And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.”
belonging to which person
From this reading “whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.”
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading “When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.”
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 For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
prepared and equipped for a particular purpose
From this reading And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.
not any; not one
From this reading The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.
at the time that
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The pawnbroker to whom he had sold it that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.
belonging to which person
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watch was being fitted with a new strap.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wrist and then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading When you have worn a wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustom you to its absence.
