A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
A knock sounded at the door. A minute later the boy walked in. The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit. It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night. While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at her.
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 “It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at her.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.”
during the time that
From this reading “While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at her.”
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 knock sounded at the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A knock sounded at the door.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A minute later the boy walked in.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A knock sounded at the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at her.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at her.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A minute later the boy walked in.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A knock sounded at the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A minute later the boy walked in.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A minute later the boy walked in.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
not any; not one
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A knock sounded at the door.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A knock sounded at the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the excuse for his visit.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A minute later the boy walked in.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an invitation for a few days ahead; there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that night.
during the time that
From this reading While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at her.
