A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully. 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight. But what does that matter, now I have made the discovery?' 'Ah, it _does_ matter! Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
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 “Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.”
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.”
up to a particular time
From this reading “'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.”
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 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Ah, it _does_ matter!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But what does that matter, now I have made the discovery?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But what does that matter, now I have made the discovery?'
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But what does that matter, now I have made the discovery?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But what does that matter, now I have made the discovery?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But what does that matter, now I have made the discovery?'
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But what does that matter, now I have made the discovery?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
up to a particular time
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'I have, it is true, been up a little late this last week,' he said cheerfully.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what does that matter, now I have made the discovery?'
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading 'In fact, I couldn't tear myself away from the equatorial; it is such a wonderful possession that it keeps me there till daylight.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Now, promise me--I insist--that you will not commit such imprudences again; for what should I do if my Astronomer Royal were to die?'
