A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
“His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community. It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford. This was what you did in his country. You bought a ribbon at a Jew’s stall on a fair-day. I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
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 “It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.”
from a time in the past until now
From this reading ““His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.”
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 It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading You bought a ribbon at a Jew’s stall on a fair-day.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You bought a ribbon at a Jew’s stall on a fair-day.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was what you did in his country.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This was what you did in his country.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You bought a ribbon at a Jew’s stall on a fair-day.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You bought a ribbon at a Jew’s stall on a fair-day.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading You bought a ribbon at a Jew’s stall on a fair-day.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began by his buying for Amy Foster a green satin ribbon in Darnford.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You bought a ribbon at a Jew’s stall on a fair-day.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was what you did in his country.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “His courtship had lasted some time--ever since he got his precarious footing in the community.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was what you did in his country.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading This was what you did in his country.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I don’t suppose the girl knew what to do with it, but he seemed to think that his honourable intentions could not be mistaken.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading This was what you did in his country.
