A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXX
The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage. It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured. No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute. The little family had sat later than usual. John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
later than; following
From this reading “The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The little family had sat later than usual.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
later than; following
From this reading The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little family had sat later than usual.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The little family had sat later than usual.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little family had sat later than usual.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The little family had sat later than usual.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
not any; not one
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little family had sat later than usual.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The little family had sat later than usual.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to John Sabay's cottage.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No two men bent on such an errand ever found it more difficult to execute.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little family had sat later than usual.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now be got, but the murderer must be secured.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John had always news they were eager to hear--of tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the steamer had brought to Kirkwall.
