A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter. I saw as much of one sister as the other. And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her. One did not even think of discriminating which were her special good qualities. She was Ellen, that was enough; or Nelly, which I prefer, for my part.
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 “And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “One did not even think of discriminating which were her special good qualities.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.”
truthful and trustworthy
From this reading “And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She was Ellen, that was enough; or Nelly, which I prefer, for my part.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “One did not even think of discriminating which were her special good qualities.”
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 They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I saw as much of one sister as the other.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
the two together, not just one
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading One did not even think of discriminating which were her special good qualities.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One did not even think of discriminating which were her special good qualities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was Ellen, that was enough; or Nelly, which I prefer, for my part.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One did not even think of discriminating which were her special good qualities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
truthful and trustworthy
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I saw as much of one sister as the other.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw as much of one sister as the other.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was Ellen, that was enough; or Nelly, which I prefer, for my part.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading One did not even think of discriminating which were her special good qualities.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I saw as much of one sister as the other.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She was Ellen, that was enough; or Nelly, which I prefer, for my part.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw as much of one sister as the other.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was Ellen, that was enough; or Nelly, which I prefer, for my part.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was Ellen, that was enough; or Nelly, which I prefer, for my part.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One did not even think of discriminating which were her special good qualities.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw as much of one sister as the other.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was Ellen, that was enough; or Nelly, which I prefer, for my part.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw as much of one sister as the other.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One did not even think of discriminating which were her special good qualities.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was Ellen, that was enough; or Nelly, which I prefer, for my part.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One did not even think of discriminating which were her special good qualities.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And Martha was an excellent girl, quite honest and friendly and good; but as for Ellen, there never could be any question about her.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were both my neighbours, of course: but to apportion one’s heart’s love in equal shares according to the claims of justice is a very different matter.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading One did not even think of discriminating which were her special good qualities.
