A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIII
"Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla. "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him. I am sure I am very glad for one thing. He can't be married or dead, as people used to say. I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
feeling guilt or embarrassment after doing something that causes embarrassment
From this reading “I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “"It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “"It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He can't be married or dead, as people used to say.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “"It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.”
no person; not anyone
From this reading “I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “I am sure I am very glad for one thing.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.”
a person, without saying who
From this reading “I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am sure I am very glad for one thing.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am sure I am very glad for one thing.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “"It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw 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 "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am sure I am very glad for one thing.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He can't be married or dead, as people used to say.
feeling guilt or embarrassment after doing something that causes embarrassment
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He can't be married or dead, as people used to say.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He can't be married or dead, as people used to say.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He can't be married or dead, as people used to say.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am sure I am very glad for one thing.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He can't be married or dead, as people used to say.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He can't be married or dead, as people used to say.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
no person; not anyone
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I am sure I am very glad for one thing.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He can't be married or dead, as people used to say.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He can't be married or dead, as people used to say.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He can't be married or dead, as people used to say.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
a person, without saying who
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I am sure I am very glad for one thing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I am sure I am very glad for one thing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He can't be married or dead, as people used to say.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He can't be married or dead, as people used to say.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am sure I am very glad for one thing.
at the time that
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I am quite ashamed to keep you so long downstairs, Aunt Jemima, when I know you must be longing for a cup of tea--but it is somebody come back whom nobody expected.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "It would have been a great deal worse if I had not known of it before I saw him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Thank you all the same, papa, for bringing me the paper," said Lucilla.
