A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXVI
August 22. I could resist no longer. I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning. Jean, my servant, had a goldfinch in a cage hung in the office window. I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “I could resist no longer.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August 22.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August 22.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jean, my servant, had a goldfinch in a cage hung in the office window.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could resist no longer.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jean, my servant, had a goldfinch in a cage hung in the office window.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Jean, my servant, had a goldfinch in a cage hung in the office window.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jean, my servant, had a goldfinch in a cage hung in the office window.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I could resist no longer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Jean, my servant, had a goldfinch in a cage hung in the office window.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jean, my servant, had a goldfinch in a cage hung in the office window.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have killed a little creature as an experiment, as a beginning.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could resist no longer.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Jean, my servant, had a goldfinch in a cage hung in the office window.
not any; not one
From this reading I could resist no longer.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jean, my servant, had a goldfinch in a cage hung in the office window.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could resist no longer.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jean, my servant, had a goldfinch in a cage hung in the office window.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jean, my servant, had a goldfinch in a cage hung in the office window.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
in or at the place that
From this reading I sent him on an errand, and I took the little bird in my hand, in my hand where I felt its heart beat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jean, my servant, had a goldfinch in a cage hung in the office window.
