A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVI
THE BLACKMAILER’S SUPREME HAUL. For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door. Had he locked it? Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then? Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
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 “Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.”
assuming something is true for the purpose of discussion
From this reading “Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?”
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 For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACKMAILER’S SUPREME HAUL.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had he locked it?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACKMAILER’S SUPREME HAUL.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had he locked it?
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Had he locked it?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he locked it?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
assuming something is true for the purpose of discussion
From this reading Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACKMAILER’S SUPREME HAUL.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BLACKMAILER’S SUPREME HAUL.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
