A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
David had a suspicion. He did not know it was that, but that is what it was. He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy. Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants. Only you must not call them pants; they are "trouvers."
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 suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He did not know it was that, but that is what it was.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “Only you must not call them pants; they are "trouvers."”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.”
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 David had a suspicion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Only you must not call them pants; they are "trouvers."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He did not know it was that, but that is what it was.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only you must not call them pants; they are "trouvers."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had a suspicion.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not know it was that, but that is what it was.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading David had a suspicion.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not know it was that, but that is what it was.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He did not know it was that, but that is what it was.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He did not know it was that, but that is what it was.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He did not know it was that, but that is what it was.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Only you must not call them pants; they are "trouvers."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not know it was that, but that is what it was.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only you must not call them pants; they are "trouvers."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had a suspicion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He did not know it was that, but that is what it was.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Only you must not call them pants; they are "trouvers."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Only you must not call them pants; they are "trouvers."
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He suspected that Mother thought he was a good little boy, and he suspected that she thought Mitchell Horrigan was a bad little boy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only you must not call them pants; they are "trouvers."
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He did not know it was that, but that is what it was.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He did not know it was that, but that is what it was.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
which person or people
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Perhaps Mother had a suspicion, too; she might have suspected that it was Mitch who had put a certain notion into David's head--a notion which had to do with pants.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Only you must not call them pants; they are "trouvers."
