A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXIX
CAN I ESCAPE? Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months. But he was lamentably infirm of purpose. He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go. What had either of them done for him that he should regard them?
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
later than; following
From this reading “Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What had either of them done for him that he should regard them?”
one or the other of two
From this reading “What had either of them done for him that he should regard them?”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.”
above and across; more than
From this reading “He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
later than; following
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he was lamentably infirm of purpose.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading CAN I ESCAPE?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What had either of them done for him that he should regard them?
one or the other of two
From this reading What had either of them done for him that he should regard them?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CAN I ESCAPE?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading CAN I ESCAPE?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was lamentably infirm of purpose.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
above and across; more than
From this reading He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had either of them done for him that he should regard them?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading What had either of them done for him that he should regard them?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading What had either of them done for him that he should regard them?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He said to himself over and over again, that it behoved him to go.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But he was lamentably infirm of purpose.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What had either of them done for him that he should regard them?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had not George Bertram been of all men the most infirm of purpose, he would have quitted London immediately after that ball--at any rate, for many months.
