A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXXIV
It was the 19th of December. Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him. He did not look up from his work. The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st. For nearly four months he had waited and longed for a letter from Katharine.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He did not look up from his work.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.”
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 It was the 19th of December.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For nearly four months he had waited and longed for a letter from Katharine.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the 19th of December.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not look up from his work.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly four months he had waited and longed for a letter from Katharine.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He did not look up from his work.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not look up from his work.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the 19th of December.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly four months he had waited and longed for a letter from Katharine.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly four months he had waited and longed for a letter from Katharine.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly four months he had waited and longed for a letter from Katharine.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He did not look up from his work.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly four months he had waited and longed for a letter from Katharine.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly four months he had waited and longed for a letter from Katharine.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not look up from his work.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the 19th of December.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the 19th of December.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not look up from his work.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly four months he had waited and longed for a letter from Katharine.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the 19th of December.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
at the time that
From this reading Clifford was sitting in his study at "Falun" when the letters were brought to him.
which person or people
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not look up from his work.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The postman could bring him nothing that he cared to have that day; for he had already heard from Alan, who was still at school; he knew that all was well with the boy, and that he would be home for the holidays on the 21st.
