A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXIV
CHRISTMAS. The mail came, but not the comfort. The only letter was a black-edged one addressed to Oscar. He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents. A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
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 “He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “The only letter was a black-edged one addressed to Oscar.”
To move from a closed position.
From this reading “He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.”
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 The only letter was a black-edged one addressed to Oscar.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only letter was a black-edged one addressed to Oscar.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only letter was a black-edged one addressed to Oscar.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The mail came, but not the comfort.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mail came, but not the comfort.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHRISTMAS.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mail came, but not the comfort.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only letter was a black-edged one addressed to Oscar.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mail came, but not the comfort.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The mail came, but not the comfort.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The only letter was a black-edged one addressed to Oscar.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only letter was a black-edged one addressed to Oscar.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only letter was a black-edged one addressed to Oscar.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The mail came, but not the comfort.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The only letter was a black-edged one addressed to Oscar.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The only letter was a black-edged one addressed to Oscar.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He came to his wife with the letter open in his hand, and sadly and tenderly broke to her its contents.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fit, resembling that which had attacked Mrs. Thorn in the early part of the year, had this time proved fatal.
