A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXIX
ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty. He had resolved to hint to Ferrand that he had better go. He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared. “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here. It would be better for me to go.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading “ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.”
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading “ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.”
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading ““I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.”
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading “He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “It would be better for me to go.”
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 He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had resolved to hint to Ferrand that he had better go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had resolved to hint to Ferrand that he had better go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had resolved to hint to Ferrand that he had better go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had resolved to hint to Ferrand that he had better go.
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had resolved to hint to Ferrand that he had better go.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had resolved to hint to Ferrand that he had better go.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would be better for me to go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
not any; not one
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had resolved to hint to Ferrand that he had better go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
at the time that
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WING That night, having gone up to his room, Shelton filled his pipe for his unpleasant duty.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be better for me to go.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I should be sorry,” he said, breaking an awkward silence, “if you were to think me ungrateful, but I see no future for me here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was still debating whether to write or go himself to the young foreigner, when there came a knock and Ferrand himself appeared.
