A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VII
A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship. She was doubtful. For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision. "The pity of it!" thought Alwynne. Once it had been the event, the crowning glory, the very reason of the ending year.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.”
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading “A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Once it had been the event, the crowning glory, the very reason of the ending year.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"The pity of it!" thought Alwynne.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.”
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 A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once it had been the event, the crowning glory, the very reason of the ending year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was doubtful.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once it had been the event, the crowning glory, the very reason of the ending year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once it had been the event, the crowning glory, the very reason of the ending year.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once it had been the event, the crowning glory, the very reason of the ending year.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "The pity of it!" thought Alwynne.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once it had been the event, the crowning glory, the very reason of the ending year.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The pity of it!" thought Alwynne.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once it had been the event, the crowning glory, the very reason of the ending year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was doubtful.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "The pity of it!" thought Alwynne.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once it had been the event, the crowning glory, the very reason of the ending year.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was doubtful.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A week before Christmas Alwynne began to wonder how the day itself should be spent, or rather, if her plans for the spending would ever pass Elsbeth's censorship.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once it had been the event, the crowning glory, the very reason of the ending year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last two or three years Christmas had been to them a rock of collision.
