A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XII
He was silent for a time, looking down. Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget. That’s what I’d never known. I never minded hard work—doing what others do. And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
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 “And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.”
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.”
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “That’s what I’d never known.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He was silent for a time, looking down.”
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading “And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.”
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 He was silent for a time, looking down.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I never minded hard work—doing what others do.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never minded hard work—doing what others do.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was silent for a time, looking down.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was silent for a time, looking down.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never minded hard work—doing what others do.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was silent for a time, looking down.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That’s what I’d never known.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That’s what I’d never known.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was silent for a time, looking down.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never minded hard work—doing what others do.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That’s what I’d never known.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never minded hard work—doing what others do.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was silent for a time, looking down.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That’s what I’d never known.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was silent for a time, looking down.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was silent for a time, looking down.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Then he burst out: "It’s learning what the beastliness of life is that I want to forget.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And I doubt whether I should have been let down so easily with people like myself—on the outside, I mean.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never minded hard work—doing what others do.
