A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
MR. X VIII ON THE SEARCH It was late in the afternoon. The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him. With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries. He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “X VIII ON THE SEARCH It was late in the afternoon.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.”
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading “He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.”
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 With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading X VIII ON THE SEARCH It was late in the afternoon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading X VIII ON THE SEARCH It was late in the afternoon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading X VIII ON THE SEARCH It was late in the afternoon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading X VIII ON THE SEARCH It was late in the afternoon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MR.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading X VIII ON THE SEARCH It was late in the afternoon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With relaxed brow and a fresh cigar, he sat in quiet contemplation of the facts brought out by the afternoon's inquiries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading X VIII ON THE SEARCH It was late in the afternoon.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading X VIII ON THE SEARCH It was late in the afternoon.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading X VIII ON THE SEARCH It was late in the afternoon.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading X VIII ON THE SEARCH It was late in the afternoon.
at the time that
From this reading He was on the point of dismissing even these from his mind, when the door opened and Gryce came in.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Inspector's office had hummed for hours with messages and reports, and the lull which had finally come seemed grateful to him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading X VIII ON THE SEARCH It was late in the afternoon.
