A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVIII
As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour. He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow. She could not help admiring his self-possession. His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair. And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “She could not help admiring his self-possession.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She could not help admiring his self-possession.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.”
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading “His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.”
but in spite of that
From this reading “His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair.”
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 As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not help admiring his self-possession.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not help admiring his self-possession.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She could not help admiring his self-possession.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She could not help admiring his self-possession.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not help admiring his self-possession.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not help admiring his self-possession.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could not help admiring his self-possession.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was in evening dress, calm and composed as usual, and greeted her with a low bow.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And with these feelings uppermost, she received him more kindly, perhaps, than she would otherwise have done.
but in spite of that
From this reading His reputation, his liberty even, was at stake, and yet he never turned a hair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Lady Jenny had expected, Mr. van Zwieten proved himself to be a wise man by presenting himself in her drawing-room at the appointed hour.
