A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXIX
M. GRASCOUR. M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray. He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman. As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known. He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.”
apart from; not including
From this reading “M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.”
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.”
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 M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
apart from; not including
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. GRASCOUR.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. GRASCOUR.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dressed himself in English mirrors, living mostly with the English.
not any; not one
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in the government service of his country, well educated, and thoroughly a gentleman.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
which person or people
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading As is the case with many Belgians, he would have been taken to be an Englishman were his country not known.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Grascour was a Belgian, about forty years old, who looked as though he were no more than thirty, except that his hair was in patches beginning to be a little gray.
