A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXIV
Samuel rushed away into the darkness. But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever. He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs. Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter. The sight was like a blow in the face to him.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.”
Causing difficulty in breathing.
From this reading “He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.”
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 sight was like a blow in the face to him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Samuel rushed away into the darkness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight was like a blow in the face to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
Causing difficulty in breathing.
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Samuel rushed away into the darkness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight was like a blow in the face to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sight was like a blow in the face to him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Samuel rushed away into the darkness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight was like a blow in the face to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Samuel rushed away into the darkness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Samuel rushed away into the darkness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight was like a blow in the face to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Samuel rushed away into the darkness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But he couldn't stay away--he could not bring himself to believe that he was separated from St. Matthew's forever.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He turned and came back to the church, and stood gazing at it, choking with his sobs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as he waited, he saw an automobile draw up in front of the side entrance, and saw Mr. Wygant step out and enter.
