A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
"Only that faint clue!" said Mr. Wilding. "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away! What am I to do?" "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done? He may not be alive now, for anything you know.
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 “"I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?”
any thing at all
From this reading “He may not be alive now, for anything you know.”
extreme sadness or suffering
From this reading “"I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?”
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “"And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He may not be alive now, for anything you know.”
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “He may not be alive now, for anything you know.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!”
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “"And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?”
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading “"I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?”
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 "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He may not be alive now, for anything you know.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading What am I to do?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
any thing at all
From this reading He may not be alive now, for anything you know.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Only that faint clue!" said Mr. Wilding.
extreme sadness or suffering
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What am I to do?"
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Only that faint clue!" said Mr. Wilding.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He may not be alive now, for anything you know.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He may not be alive now, for anything you know.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading What am I to do?"
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He may not be alive now, for anything you know.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading He may not be alive now, for anything you know.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Only that faint clue!" said Mr. Wilding.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He may not be alive now, for anything you know.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He may not be alive now, for anything you know.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Only that faint clue!" said Mr. Wilding.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Only that faint clue!" said Mr. Wilding.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
from a time in the past until now
From this reading "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Only that faint clue!" said Mr. Wilding.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What am I to do?"
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "And a quarter of a century has passed since the child was taken away!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What am I to do?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Only that faint clue!" said Mr. Wilding.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading "I hope you won't take offence at my freedom, sir," said Mrs. Goldstraw; "but why should you distress yourself about what is to be done?
