A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XI
Hilary Joyce was disappointed that there were no dervishes. It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account. But even as it was, he had a rare chance of impressing the authorities. He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack. The prisoner’s dress and bearing showed that he was of importance.
Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But even as it was, he had a rare chance of impressing the authorities.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.”
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 It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But even as it was, he had a rare chance of impressing the authorities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even as it was, he had a rare chance of impressing the authorities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The prisoner’s dress and bearing showed that he was of importance.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But even as it was, he had a rare chance of impressing the authorities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even as it was, he had a rare chance of impressing the authorities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilary Joyce was disappointed that there were no dervishes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilary Joyce was disappointed that there were no dervishes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The prisoner’s dress and bearing showed that he was of importance.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But even as it was, he had a rare chance of impressing the authorities.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilary Joyce was disappointed that there were no dervishes.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The prisoner’s dress and bearing showed that he was of importance.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even as it was, he had a rare chance of impressing the authorities.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilary Joyce was disappointed that there were no dervishes.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
not any; not one
From this reading Hilary Joyce was disappointed that there were no dervishes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But even as it was, he had a rare chance of impressing the authorities.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The prisoner’s dress and bearing showed that he was of importance.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even as it was, he had a rare chance of impressing the authorities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The prisoner’s dress and bearing showed that he was of importance.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Hilary Joyce was disappointed that there were no dervishes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilary Joyce was disappointed that there were no dervishes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hilary Joyce was disappointed that there were no dervishes.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Hilary Joyce was disappointed that there were no dervishes.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
which person or people
From this reading He would love to show his capacity to the head of the Intelligence, and even more to that grim Chief who never forgot what was smart, or forgave what was slack.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would have been a great start for him in the Egyptian army had he fought a little action on his own account.
