A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VI
The dead man's manuscript was gone. But how? A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished! Was I to seek explanation in the arts of sorcery ascribed to Louis Grayle in the narrative? I would not pursue that conjecture.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The dead man's manuscript was gone.”
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading “The dead man's manuscript was gone.”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!”
not one and not the other of two
From this reading “A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!”
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading “A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!”
wealth or financial means
From this reading “A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!”
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “I would not pursue that conjecture.”
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 A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was I to seek explanation in the arts of sorcery ascribed to Louis Grayle in the narrative?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was I to seek explanation in the arts of sorcery ascribed to Louis Grayle in the narrative?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But how?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would not pursue that conjecture.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The dead man's manuscript was gone.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was I to seek explanation in the arts of sorcery ascribed to Louis Grayle in the narrative?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dead man's manuscript was gone.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was I to seek explanation in the arts of sorcery ascribed to Louis Grayle in the narrative?
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But how?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Was I to seek explanation in the arts of sorcery ascribed to Louis Grayle in the narrative?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Was I to seek explanation in the arts of sorcery ascribed to Louis Grayle in the narrative?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was I to seek explanation in the arts of sorcery ascribed to Louis Grayle in the narrative?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dead man's manuscript was gone.
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading The dead man's manuscript was gone.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was I to seek explanation in the arts of sorcery ascribed to Louis Grayle in the narrative?
not one and not the other of two
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I would not pursue that conjecture.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would not pursue that conjecture.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was I to seek explanation in the arts of sorcery ascribed to Louis Grayle in the narrative?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was I to seek explanation in the arts of sorcery ascribed to Louis Grayle in the narrative?
wealth or financial means
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dead man's manuscript was gone.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Was I to seek explanation in the arts of sorcery ascribed to Louis Grayle in the narrative?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The dead man's manuscript was gone.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading A phantom might delude my eye, a human will, though exerted at a distance, might, if the tales of mesmerism be true, deprive me of movement and of consciousness; but neither phantom nor mesmeric will could surely remove from the table before me the material substance of the book that had vanished!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I would not pursue that conjecture.
