A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XX
HALL AND FARM. WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.” All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast. The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind. Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.”
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.””
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.”
above and across; more than
From this reading “All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.”
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.”
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 All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HALL AND FARM.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HALL AND FARM.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HALL AND FARM.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
above and across; more than
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
