A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVIII
Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder. But there was no more chance of his working than there was of his sleeping. It was the first time it ever had happened. He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him. But something had happened to this young man.
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 “He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It was the first time it ever had happened.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It was the first time it ever had happened.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.”
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading “He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.”
To recall to mind.
From this reading “He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “But something had happened to this young man.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It was the first time it ever had happened.”
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 He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was no more chance of his working than there was of his sleeping.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was no more chance of his working than there was of his sleeping.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was the first time it ever had happened.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was the first time it ever had happened.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was the first time it ever had happened.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first time it ever had happened.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the first time it ever had happened.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But something had happened to this young man.
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was no more chance of his working than there was of his sleeping.
not any; not one
From this reading But there was no more chance of his working than there was of his sleeping.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But there was no more chance of his working than there was of his sleeping.
To recall to mind.
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was no more chance of his working than there was of his sleeping.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But something had happened to this young man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But there was no more chance of his working than there was of his sleeping.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was no more chance of his working than there was of his sleeping.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But something had happened to this young man.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was the first time it ever had happened.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But something had happened to this young man.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But there was no more chance of his working than there was of his sleeping.
at the time that
From this reading He could not remember an instance when the subtle challenge of a disordered manuscript had been declined by him.
in or at the place that
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annan spent the entire day with Eris; came home at midnight; seated himself at his desk where his work lay in inviting disorder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was no more chance of his working than there was of his sleeping.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But something had happened to this young man.
