A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young. They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh. He had only been there four months, and he was young, and a giant besides. There was too much health in him. He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young.”
for the reason that
From this reading “Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “He had only been there four months, and he was young, and a giant besides.”
in addition to; as well as
From this reading “He had only been there four months, and he was young, and a giant besides.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.”
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 had only been there four months, and he was young, and a giant besides.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.
for the reason that
From this reading Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had only been there four months, and he was young, and a giant besides.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading He had only been there four months, and he was young, and a giant besides.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had only been there four months, and he was young, and a giant besides.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had only been there four months, and he was young, and a giant besides.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was too much health in him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had only been there four months, and he was young, and a giant besides.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was too much health in him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was too much health in him.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward—stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh.
