A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIII
LEIGH HEARS STRANGE THINGS Craig Bellshaw was in an ill humour. He had received a letter from Lin Soo which upset him. The Chinaman said he had changed his mind. He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it. These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.
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 “He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.”
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading “These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The Chinaman said he had changed his mind.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.”
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 had received a letter from Lin Soo which upset him.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading LEIGH HEARS STRANGE THINGS Craig Bellshaw was in an ill humour.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LEIGH HEARS STRANGE THINGS Craig Bellshaw was in an ill humour.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Chinaman said he had changed his mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Chinaman said he had changed his mind.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LEIGH HEARS STRANGE THINGS Craig Bellshaw was in an ill humour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had received a letter from Lin Soo which upset him.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had received a letter from Lin Soo which upset him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had received a letter from Lin Soo which upset him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LEIGH HEARS STRANGE THINGS Craig Bellshaw was in an ill humour.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had received a letter from Lin Soo which upset him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Chinaman said he had changed his mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LEIGH HEARS STRANGE THINGS Craig Bellshaw was in an ill humour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LEIGH HEARS STRANGE THINGS Craig Bellshaw was in an ill humour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LEIGH HEARS STRANGE THINGS Craig Bellshaw was in an ill humour.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LEIGH HEARS STRANGE THINGS Craig Bellshaw was in an ill humour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had received a letter from Lin Soo which upset him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had received a letter from Lin Soo which upset him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Chinaman said he had changed his mind.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had received a letter from Lin Soo which upset him.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Chinaman said he had changed his mind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had received a letter from Lin Soo which upset him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LEIGH HEARS STRANGE THINGS Craig Bellshaw was in an ill humour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Chinaman said he had changed his mind.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LEIGH HEARS STRANGE THINGS Craig Bellshaw was in an ill humour.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had received a letter from Lin Soo which upset him.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading LEIGH HEARS STRANGE THINGS Craig Bellshaw was in an ill humour.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had received a letter from Lin Soo which upset him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He could not supply him with what he required, it was too risky; already he had been in trouble with the police, and he dare not undertake it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were not the exact words, for the letter was illiterate, but Lin Soo made it plain enough to Bellshaw.
