A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
SCARCELY had I arrived when I was seized in its iron embraces. Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms. They were responsible for my life. I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner. For the first few days they treated me with a tenderness that had something revolting in it.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading “I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.”
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading “Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “For the first few days they treated me with a tenderness that had something revolting in it.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “They were responsible for my life.”
having a duty to protect or manage something
From this reading “They were responsible for my life.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “For the first few days they treated me with a tenderness that had something revolting in it.”
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 Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SCARCELY had I arrived when I was seized in its iron embraces.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few days they treated me with a tenderness that had something revolting in it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SCARCELY had I arrived when I was seized in its iron embraces.
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few days they treated me with a tenderness that had something revolting in it.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first few days they treated me with a tenderness that had something revolting in it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading SCARCELY had I arrived when I was seized in its iron embraces.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading SCARCELY had I arrived when I was seized in its iron embraces.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SCARCELY had I arrived when I was seized in its iron embraces.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SCARCELY had I arrived when I was seized in its iron embraces.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading SCARCELY had I arrived when I was seized in its iron embraces.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were responsible for my life.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
not any; not one
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
having a duty to protect or manage something
From this reading They were responsible for my life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few days they treated me with a tenderness that had something revolting in it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SCARCELY had I arrived when I was seized in its iron embraces.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SCARCELY had I arrived when I was seized in its iron embraces.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading For the first few days they treated me with a tenderness that had something revolting in it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few days they treated me with a tenderness that had something revolting in it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For the first few days they treated me with a tenderness that had something revolting in it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Every precaution was multiplied; no knife, no fork was permitted for my meals; the strait-waistcoat, a kind of coarse canvas sack, imprisoned my arms.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were responsible for my life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few days they treated me with a tenderness that had something revolting in it.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SCARCELY had I arrived when I was seized in its iron embraces.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were responsible for my life.
at the time that
From this reading SCARCELY had I arrived when I was seized in its iron embraces.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I was to be with them for six or seven weeks, and it was their duty to deliver me safe and sound to the executioner.
