A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIV
The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood. Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully. The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him. Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him. “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.”
at or toward the back of something
From this reading “Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.”
thinking that somebody or something will arrive
From this reading “The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.”
To move from a closed position.
From this reading “Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.”
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 The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
thinking that somebody or something will arrive
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
which person or people
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
