A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
THE SHEPHERD. Jack's prophecy was not destined to be fulfilled. For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room. In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep. In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
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 “For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.”
not one and not the other of two
From this reading “In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.”
A prediction of what will happen in the future, often divinely or magically inspired.
From this reading “Jack's prophecy was not destined to be fulfilled.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.”
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 In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Jack's prophecy was not destined to be fulfilled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack's prophecy was not destined to be fulfilled.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack's prophecy was not destined to be fulfilled.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack's prophecy was not destined to be fulfilled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Jack's prophecy was not destined to be fulfilled.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
A prediction of what will happen in the future, often divinely or magically inspired.
From this reading Jack's prophecy was not destined to be fulfilled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEPHERD.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHEPHERD.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jack's prophecy was not destined to be fulfilled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain did Cicely prepare her most tempting delicacies, and brew her choicest sleeping draughts—he could neither eat nor sleep.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jack's prophecy was not destined to be fulfilled.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For many days, he tossed restlessly on his bed, or crept from it only to recline in the great armchair which had been placed in his room.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In vain did Anne, more awake to sublunary matters than she had been for a long time, try to divert him with legends of saints.
