A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VI
The force with which it drew him brought hesitation. It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life. These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance. The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance. Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading “These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.”
extremely frightening or unpleasant
From this reading “The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.”
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading “These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.”
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 It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
extremely frightening or unpleasant
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
