A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXXVII
A fortnight later Mostyn returned to Atlanta. He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift. Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony. Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours. What a mad, futile thing the waking city seemed!
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading “Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “A fortnight later Mostyn returned to Atlanta.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What a mad, futile thing the waking city seemed!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What a mad, futile thing the waking city seemed!”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.”
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading “What a mad, futile thing the waking city seemed!”
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 A fortnight later Mostyn returned to Atlanta.
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fortnight later Mostyn returned to Atlanta.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a mad, futile thing the waking city seemed!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fortnight later Mostyn returned to Atlanta.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a mad, futile thing the waking city seemed!
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fortnight later Mostyn returned to Atlanta.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a mad, futile thing the waking city seemed!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fortnight later Mostyn returned to Atlanta.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A fortnight later Mostyn returned to Atlanta.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What a mad, futile thing the waking city seemed!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been a condemned prisoner awaiting execution at dawn, he could not have suffered more mental agony.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What a mad, futile thing the waking city seemed!
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A fortnight later Mostyn returned to Atlanta.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading What a mad, futile thing the waking city seemed!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unable to sleep that night, he rose before sun-up on the following morning and walked through the quiet streets for two hours.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a mad, futile thing the waking city seemed!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent the first day at his sister's home trying to pass the time reading in her library, but the whole procedure was a hollow makeshift.
