A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell. Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement. From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities. Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly. At any rate, he spoke to me.
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 “Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.”
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.”
but in spite of that
From this reading “Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.”
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 Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At any rate, he spoke to me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At any rate, he spoke to me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At any rate, he spoke to me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At any rate, he spoke to me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
a formal word for “on”
From this reading From the first moment of my arrival upon the platform I had singled him out, the only interesting figure in a crowd of nonentities.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps I had lingered a little too closely by his side, had manifested more curiosity in him than was altogether seemly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why the man should have spoken to me at all I could not tell.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet it is certain that I heard his simple and courteous inquiry with a thrill of pleasure, not unmixed with excitement.
