A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXXVI
MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes. What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music? It was years since she had seen her like this! Hortense knew the signs and was well pleased. At last, then, the household was to be properly established.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading “MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “At last, then, the household was to be properly established.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Hortense knew the signs and was well pleased.”
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “It was years since she had seen her like this!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Hortense knew the signs and was well pleased.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?”
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 What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last, then, the household was to be properly established.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At last, then, the household was to be properly established.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, then, the household was to be properly established.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was years since she had seen her like this!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, then, the household was to be properly established.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hortense knew the signs and was well pleased.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At last, then, the household was to be properly established.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Hortense knew the signs and was well pleased.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, then, the household was to be properly established.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was years since she had seen her like this!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hortense knew the signs and was well pleased.
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It was years since she had seen her like this!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, then, the household was to be properly established.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was years since she had seen her like this!
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MAN TO MAN Hortense smiled softly to herself as she laid down the ivory-backed brushes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was years since she had seen her like this!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hortense knew the signs and was well pleased.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
at the time that
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
in the company of; together with
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What did it mean, she wondered, when her mistress went out with tired eyes and pallid cheeks, and came home with the colour of a rose and eyes like stars, humming an old French love-song, and her feet moving all the time to some unheard music?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was years since she had seen her like this!
