A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers. This was Mr. Chester's ingenious invention. Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife. Hence the device. At one o'clock on this morning he opened his street door and entered his house.
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 “Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.”
for this reason
From this reading “Hence the device.”
Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.
From this reading “This was Mr. Chester's ingenious invention.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “At one o'clock on this morning he opened his street door and entered his house.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “At one o'clock on this morning he opened his street door and entered his house.”
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading “The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.”
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 Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
later than; following
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At one o'clock on this morning he opened his street door and entered his house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At one o'clock on this morning he opened his street door and entered his house.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the device.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one o'clock on this morning he opened his street door and entered his house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
for this reason
From this reading Hence the device.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.
From this reading This was Mr. Chester's ingenious invention.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was Mr. Chester's ingenious invention.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At one o'clock on this morning he opened his street door and entered his house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one o'clock on this morning he opened his street door and entered his house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At one o'clock on this morning he opened his street door and entered his house.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At one o'clock on this morning he opened his street door and entered his house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was Mr. Chester's ingenious invention.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was Mr. Chester's ingenious invention.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early in his married life he had found it not agreeable to his sensitive feelings that, after a night's carouse, the door should be opened for him by his wife.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The handle of the street door of Mr. Chester's house could be so worked from without by any person initiated into the secret that it yielded easily to practised fingers.
