A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
_A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible. Even the sun was only a twinkle. But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever. Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals. Machines compiled dictionaries and grammars and began translating the major languages.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Machines compiled dictionaries and grammars and began translating the major languages.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Even the sun was only a twinkle.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “_A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “_A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.”
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading “Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals.”
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 gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Machines compiled dictionaries and grammars and began translating the major languages.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Machines compiled dictionaries and grammars and began translating the major languages.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Machines compiled dictionaries and grammars and began translating the major languages.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even the sun was only a twinkle.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Machines compiled dictionaries and grammars and began translating the major languages.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Machines compiled dictionaries and grammars and began translating the major languages.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Machines compiled dictionaries and grammars and began translating the major languages.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Machines compiled dictionaries and grammars and began translating the major languages.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the sun was only a twinkle.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the sun was only a twinkle.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Machines compiled dictionaries and grammars and began translating the major languages.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the sun was only a twinkle.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season--an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer._ Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals.
