A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIX
When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking. Louis did not drink. Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink. We were healthy, normal, non-alcoholic. Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.
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 “Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.”
not one and not the other of two
From this reading “Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.”
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading “Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were healthy, normal, non-alcoholic.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Louis did not drink.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
not any; not one
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were healthy, normal, non-alcoholic.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were healthy, normal, non-alcoholic.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Neither he nor I could afford it; but, more significant than that, we had no desire to drink.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were healthy, normal, non-alcoholic.
at the time that
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.
which person or people
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When I was with people who did not drink, I never thought of drinking.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had we been alcoholic, we would have drunk whether or not we could have afforded it.
