A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way! "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post. But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year. Instead, I'm zoo-keeper to these confounded settlers. And not for one world, mind you, but eight!"
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
annoying or confusing
From this reading “Instead, I'm zoo-keeper to these confounded settlers.”
suffering from pain, danger, or serious difficulty
From this reading “But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.”
closed and kept secret in this chapter’s sailing situation
From this reading “Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “Instead, I'm zoo-keeper to these confounded settlers.”
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.”
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 "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
annoying or confusing
From this reading Instead, I'm zoo-keeper to these confounded settlers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
suffering from pain, danger, or serious difficulty
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And not for one world, mind you, but eight!"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And not for one world, mind you, but eight!"
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, I'm zoo-keeper to these confounded settlers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, I'm zoo-keeper to these confounded settlers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And not for one world, mind you, but eight!"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
closed and kept secret in this chapter’s sailing situation
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, I'm zoo-keeper to these confounded settlers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Instead, I'm zoo-keeper to these confounded settlers.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Retief knew the importance of sealed orders--and the need to keep them that way!
in the company of; together with
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And not for one world, mind you, but eight!"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading And not for one world, mind you, but eight!"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, I'm zoo-keeper to these confounded settlers.
