A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XI
JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man. He looked older than his years. Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow. There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily. To do so is a gift; and it was denied to John Risca.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He looked older than his years.”
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.”
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading “There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.”
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 JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To do so is a gift; and it was denied to John Risca.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading To do so is a gift; and it was denied to John Risca.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To do so is a gift; and it was denied to John Risca.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked older than his years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He looked older than his years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To do so is a gift; and it was denied to John Risca.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To do so is a gift; and it was denied to John Risca.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He looked older than his years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
not any; not one
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked older than his years.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading To do so is a gift; and it was denied to John Risca.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ragged streaks of gray appeared in his black hair, and the lines deepened on his heavy brow.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He looked older than his years.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To do so is a gift; and it was denied to John Risca.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To do so is a gift; and it was denied to John Risca.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
which person or people
From this reading There are some men who, no matter what their circumstances may be, never take themselves happily.
in the company of; together with
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN RISCA, at thirty-four, with a ward of twenty, and with the normal hope of a man's life withered at the root, regarded himself as an elderly man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked older than his years.
