A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVI
I could not restrain a cry of admiration. ‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect. Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death? Ingrate!’ he cried. ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “I could not restrain a cry of admiration.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Ingrate!’ he cried.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.”
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading “‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.”
but in spite of that
From this reading “Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?”
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 I could not restrain a cry of admiration.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not restrain a cry of admiration.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could not restrain a cry of admiration.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Ingrate!’ he cried.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not restrain a cry of admiration.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ingrate!’ he cried.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I could not restrain a cry of admiration.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading ‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ingrate!’ he cried.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I could not restrain a cry of admiration.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I could not restrain a cry of admiration.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not restrain a cry of admiration.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet what are they but pebbles, passive to the tool, cold as death?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘Each one of these—miracles of nature’s patience, conceived out of the dust in centuries of microscopical activity, each one is, for you and me, a year of life, liberty, and mutual affection.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘Even in your ignorant eyes,’ pursued my father, ‘they command respect.
