A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter X
Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise. “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?” The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive. “Show him in,” said Michael. Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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 “Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.”
not one and not the other of two
From this reading “The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.”
for that reason; as a result
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.”
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 Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Show him in,” said Michael.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
not any; not one
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Show him in,” said Michael.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
