A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was. But at last I decided that it was a man. I never saw such clothes. Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall. And thin!
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 “At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But at last I decided that it was a man.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I never saw such clothes.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.”
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading “And thin!”
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading “Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.”
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 At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And thin!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But at last I decided that it was a man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never saw such clothes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at last I decided that it was a man.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But at last I decided that it was a man.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I never saw such clothes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never saw such clothes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I never saw such clothes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But at last I decided that it was a man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading And thin!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether it was the darkness, or his costume, or what it was, I cannot say, but he seemed to me to be surprisingly tall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first I could not make out if it was a man or woman or what it was.
