A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VII
THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world. What a world! How rich a world! Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks. The road to Oregon was by then won.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
higher than, or over, something
From this reading “Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.”
from one side of something to the other
From this reading “Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.”
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading “THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.”
up to a particular time
From this reading “Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.”
but in spite of that
From this reading “THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.”
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 THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How rich a world!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road to Oregon was by then won.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How rich a world!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road to Oregon was by then won.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road to Oregon was by then won.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
up to a particular time
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The road to Oregon was by then won.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above, for two thousand miles, nigh a thousand miles right-angled across the needle’s path, swept another unknown world, the Great West of America, marked till now only by big-game trails and pony paths and wagon tracks.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a world!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road to Oregon was by then won.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
but in spite of that
From this reading THE TRAIL AN EMPIRE in embryo lay threading out vein filaments, insentient, antenatal—Texas, not having an identity, not yet born, but soon to be a world.
