A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
"On his knees at the keyhole," was the secretary's reflection. "Just as I thought. But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little." As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first. After that, he made a thorough search of the room.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
higher than, or over, something
From this reading “As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.”
from one side of something to the other
From this reading “As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.”
later than; following
From this reading “After that, he made a thorough search of the room.”
to think that something will happen
From this reading “But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."”
above and across; more than
From this reading “As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"Just as I thought.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.”
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 But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
higher than, or over, something
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
later than; following
From this reading After that, he made a thorough search of the room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Just as I thought.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "On his knees at the keyhole," was the secretary's reflection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
to think that something will happen
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "On his knees at the keyhole," was the secretary's reflection.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Just as I thought.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Just as I thought.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "On his knees at the keyhole," was the secretary's reflection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "On his knees at the keyhole," was the secretary's reflection.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "On his knees at the keyhole," was the secretary's reflection.
above and across; more than
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "On his knees at the keyhole," was the secretary's reflection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After that, he made a thorough search of the room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After that, he made a thorough search of the room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "On his knees at the keyhole," was the secretary's reflection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After that, he made a thorough search of the room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "On his knees at the keyhole," was the secretary's reflection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After that, he made a thorough search of the room.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Just as I thought.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But he didn't expect to look down the barrel of a pistol and it made him jump a little."
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "On his knees at the keyhole," was the secretary's reflection.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As soon as the steps had gone downstairs and died away across the hall, Shorthouse went over and locked the door, stuffing a piece of crumpled paper into the second keyhole which he saw immediately above the first.
