A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VI
‘By contract?’ asked the man. ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’ ‘All right,’ replied the man; ‘what shall I have to do?’ ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground. And, besides that, you must catch, every evening, seven singing birds for my seven sons.’
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 “‘By contract?’ asked the man.”
in addition to; as well as
From this reading “And, besides that, you must catch, every evening, seven singing birds for my seven sons.’”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’”
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading “‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “‘All right,’ replied the man; ‘what shall I have to do?’”
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.”
any one of a set, it does not matter which
From this reading “‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’”
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 ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘All right,’ replied the man; ‘what shall I have to do?’
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘By contract?’ asked the man.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading And, besides that, you must catch, every evening, seven singing birds for my seven sons.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, besides that, you must catch, every evening, seven singing birds for my seven sons.’
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
showing who or what does the action
From this reading ‘By contract?’ asked the man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, besides that, you must catch, every evening, seven singing birds for my seven sons.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘By contract?’ asked the man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading ‘All right,’ replied the man; ‘what shall I have to do?’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, besides that, you must catch, every evening, seven singing birds for my seven sons.’
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And, besides that, you must catch, every evening, seven singing birds for my seven sons.’
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘All right,’ replied the man; ‘what shall I have to do?’
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘By contract?’ asked the man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘All right,’ replied the man; ‘what shall I have to do?’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, besides that, you must catch, every evening, seven singing birds for my seven sons.’
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, besides that, you must catch, every evening, seven singing birds for my seven sons.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, besides that, you must catch, every evening, seven singing birds for my seven sons.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And, besides that, you must catch, every evening, seven singing birds for my seven sons.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘By contract?’ asked the man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ‘All right,’ replied the man; ‘what shall I have to do?’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
used to ask for information about something
From this reading ‘All right,’ replied the man; ‘what shall I have to do?’
any one of a set, it does not matter which
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Yes, by contract,’ replied the stranger, ‘and whichever of us breaks it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.’
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch the ground.
