A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter X
A watch fell upon the floor; then another. These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one. Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack. He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon. The portière closed behind her.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “A watch fell upon the floor; then another.”
at or toward the back of something
From this reading “The portière closed behind her.”
a firm hold in a specific situation in this story
From this reading “These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.”
in the direction of
From this reading “He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.”
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “A watch fell upon the floor; then another.”
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 A watch fell upon the floor; then another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A watch fell upon the floor; then another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The portière closed behind her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The portière closed behind her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A watch fell upon the floor; then another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A watch fell upon the floor; then another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.
a firm hold in a specific situation in this story
From this reading These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The portière closed behind her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A watch fell upon the floor; then another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A watch fell upon the floor; then another.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
in the direction of
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, actuated by a sudden decision, he dropped the other articles into an armchair, emptied his pockets and unpacked his sack.
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A watch fell upon the floor; then another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A watch fell upon the floor; then another.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading These were followed by other articles which slipped from his grasp one by one.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He felt very uncomfortable in Nelly’s presence, and stepped toward her with the intention of speaking to her, but she shuddered, rose quickly and fled toward the salon.
