A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XI
It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death. Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her. Perhaps it troubled her husband more than them. He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward. He was thinking.
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 “Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.”
above and across; more than
From this reading “He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Perhaps it troubled her husband more than them.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He was thinking.”
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.”
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading “Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it troubled her husband more than them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it troubled her husband more than them.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
above and across; more than
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it troubled her husband more than them.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Perhaps it troubled her husband more than them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was thinking.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was quite true: Mrs. Darkham was at the very portals of death.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
which person or people
From this reading Whether those great gates were to be opened for her, or she could be dragged back from them, was the question that troubled the physicians who attended her.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was sitting now in his library, in the big chair, with his arms hanging listlessly over the arms of it, and his head pushed somewhat forward.
