A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXV
PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind. He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home. Toward the end of dinner I asked him a question. "Ralph," I said, "how could I meet the Chinese ambassador here?" He stared at me for a moment.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Toward the end of dinner I asked him a question.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “"Ralph," I said, "how could I meet the Chinese ambassador here?"”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"Ralph," I said, "how could I meet the Chinese ambassador here?"”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Toward the end of dinner I asked him a question.”
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.”
in the direction of
From this reading “Toward the end of dinner I asked him a question.”
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 talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ralph," I said, "how could I meet the Chinese ambassador here?"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Toward the end of dinner I asked him a question.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ralph," I said, "how could I meet the Chinese ambassador here?"
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Ralph," I said, "how could I meet the Chinese ambassador here?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Toward the end of dinner I asked him a question.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Toward the end of dinner I asked him a question.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Ralph," I said, "how could I meet the Chinese ambassador here?"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ralph," I said, "how could I meet the Chinese ambassador here?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ralph," I said, "how could I meet the Chinese ambassador here?"
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stared at me for a moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Toward the end of dinner I asked him a question.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ralph," I said, "how could I meet the Chinese ambassador here?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ralph," I said, "how could I meet the Chinese ambassador here?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stared at me for a moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
in the direction of
From this reading Toward the end of dinner I asked him a question.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He talked with more interest of life and his share in it than he had done--to me, at any rate--since the tragedy which had deprived him of a home.
which person or people
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading PRIVATE AND DIPLOMATIC The following evening I dined alone with my brother, who was, for him, in an unusually cheerful frame of mind.
