A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XI
With the spring came again the old madness and battle. Now he knew he would have to go to Miriam. But what was his reluctance? He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through. He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
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 “With the spring came again the old madness and battle.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Now he knew he would have to go to Miriam.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.”
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading “He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.”
not one and not the other of two
From this reading “He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Now he knew he would have to go to Miriam.”
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 told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With the spring came again the old madness and battle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With the spring came again the old madness and battle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the spring came again the old madness and battle.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But what was his reluctance?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the spring came again the old madness and battle.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he knew he would have to go to Miriam.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Now he knew he would have to go to Miriam.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now he knew he would have to go to Miriam.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But what was his reluctance?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he knew he would have to go to Miriam.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the spring came again the old madness and battle.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he knew he would have to go to Miriam.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he knew he would have to go to Miriam.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the spring came again the old madness and battle.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But what was his reluctance?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the spring came again the old madness and battle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With the spring came again the old madness and battle.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now he knew he would have to go to Miriam.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have married her; but his circumstances at home made it difficult, and, moreover, he did not want to marry.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But what was his reluctance?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what was his reluctance?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He told himself it was only a sort of overstrong virginity in her and him which neither could break through.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the spring came again the old madness and battle.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Now he knew he would have to go to Miriam.
