A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XV
From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand. The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way. “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh. “Stand back, mistress, whoever you be! The house is shut, and our lord sees no guests to-night.”
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 ““Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.”
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading “From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.”
an old word for “no”
From this reading ““Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ““Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.”
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading “From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““Stand back, mistress, whoever you be!”
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 “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stand back, mistress, whoever you be!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Stand back, mistress, whoever you be!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house is shut, and our lord sees no guests to-night.”
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way.
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house is shut, and our lord sees no guests to-night.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The house is shut, and our lord sees no guests to-night.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house is shut, and our lord sees no guests to-night.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stand back, mistress, whoever you be!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.
an old word for “no”
From this reading “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.
not any; not one
From this reading “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house is shut, and our lord sees no guests to-night.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house is shut, and our lord sees no guests to-night.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stand back, mistress, whoever you be!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house is shut, and our lord sees no guests to-night.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lady Mary had slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door, but they rudely barred her way.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
which person or people
From this reading From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough serving-men, bearded and gruff, great cudgels in their hands, to ask them who they were and what their errand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stand back, mistress, whoever you be!
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Nay, nay, our master needs no more!” cried one, with a hoarse laugh.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Stand back, mistress, whoever you be!
