A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter X
When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted. He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none. Why should she desire to insult him? In what possible way could he have offended her? Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
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 “He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.”
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading “Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “In what possible way could he have offended her?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “In what possible way could he have offended her?”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.”
Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.
From this reading “Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.”
not one, and not any
From this reading “He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.”
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 Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should she desire to insult him?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Why should she desire to insult him?
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should she desire to insult him?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
not one, and not any
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why should she desire to insult him?
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Why should she desire to insult him?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
at the time that
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should she desire to insult him?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
