A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
UNMASKED. The quiet was deadly. Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound. Arthur and I, shaken by the suddenness of the transition, waited in cold apprehension. Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
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 “Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?”
a firm hold in a specific situation in this story
From this reading “Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?”
To move from a closed position.
From this reading “Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?”
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading “Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?”
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading “Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?”
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 Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Arthur and I, shaken by the suddenness of the transition, waited in cold apprehension.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Arthur and I, shaken by the suddenness of the transition, waited in cold apprehension.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Arthur and I, shaken by the suddenness of the transition, waited in cold apprehension.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Arthur and I, shaken by the suddenness of the transition, waited in cold apprehension.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet was deadly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
a firm hold in a specific situation in this story
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Arthur and I, shaken by the suddenness of the transition, waited in cold apprehension.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Arthur and I, shaken by the suddenness of the transition, waited in cold apprehension.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet was deadly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Arthur and I, shaken by the suddenness of the transition, waited in cold apprehension.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Arthur and I, shaken by the suddenness of the transition, waited in cold apprehension.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The quiet was deadly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Arthur and I, shaken by the suddenness of the transition, waited in cold apprehension.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNMASKED.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Arthur and I, shaken by the suddenness of the transition, waited in cold apprehension.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The quiet was deadly.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
in or at the place that
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Would the door from the rear of the house burst open and the shaggy beast rage into the room, its colossal arms crushing whatever might come within its grasp?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where five minutes before had been the yelling of the natives and the roaring of the drums, the sharp cracks of our rifles, and the bellowing of the native firearms, now there was not a sound.
