A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXXI
One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija. She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.” But Marija only shook her head. There was nothing else for her to do, she said, and nobody to employ her. She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
later than; following
From this reading “One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.””
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.””
no person; not anyone
From this reading “There was nothing else for her to do, she said, and nobody to employ her.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “There was nothing else for her to do, she said, and nobody to employ her.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.”
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading “She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.””
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 One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
later than; following
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Marija only shook her head.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There was nothing else for her to do, she said, and nobody to employ her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing else for her to do, she said, and nobody to employ her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing else for her to do, she said, and nobody to employ her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was nothing else for her to do, she said, and nobody to employ her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Marija only shook her head.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But Marija only shook her head.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
no person; not anyone
From this reading There was nothing else for her to do, she said, and nobody to employ her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing else for her to do, she said, and nobody to employ her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Marija only shook her head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing else for her to do, she said, and nobody to employ her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Marija only shook her head.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing else for her to do, she said, and nobody to employ her.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of the first things that Jurgis had done after he got a job was to go and see Marija.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She could not keep her past a secret—girls had tried it, and they were always found out.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading She came down into the basement of the house to meet him, and he stood by the door with his hat in his hand, saying, “I’ve got work now, and so you can leave here.”
