A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIV
Nothing was happening. For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure. It was the dullest spring on record. And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief. Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.
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 “Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.”
every person
From this reading “Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “Nothing was happening.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.”
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.”
but in spite of that
From this reading “And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.”
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 the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the dullest spring on record.
every person
From this reading Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing was happening.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the dullest spring on record.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing was happening.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was the dullest spring on record.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the dullest spring on record.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.
from a time in the past until now
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the dullest spring on record.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Everybody agreed that it had never been quite so bad as this.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nothing was happening.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time since many years, the Nepenthe season threatened to be a failure.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet there was a quality in that heavy atmosphere which seemed to threaten mischief.
