A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IX
A BATTLE WITH THE SERPENT. I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before. I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me. When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way. But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.”
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.”
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 BATTLE WITH THE SERPENT.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BATTLE WITH THE SERPENT.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
not any; not one
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BATTLE WITH THE SERPENT.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A BATTLE WITH THE SERPENT.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am not particularly afraid of snakes, though they are very disagreeable to me.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I had no idea what the snake was, for I had never seen one of that kind before.
at the time that
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A BATTLE WITH THE SERPENT.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was at work in the field as a farmer, I suppose I never lost an opportunity to kill one that came in my way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But all these were harmless reptiles, and of late years I have not been disposed to meddle with them.
