A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIX
On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat. The shorthand was a failure; the whole course was a failure. She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded. She could not even spell! And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “She could not even spell!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The shorthand was a failure; the whole course was a failure.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.”
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.”
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 shorthand was a failure; the whole course was a failure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not even spell!
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The shorthand was a failure; the whole course was a failure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shorthand was a failure; the whole course was a failure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not even spell!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She had not the instinct for plodding, for the meticulous attention to detail that those absurd, irrational lines and hooks and curves demanded.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The shorthand was a failure; the whole course was a failure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shorthand was a failure; the whole course was a failure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last day of February Audrey came home from her shorthand class and stood wearily by the window, too discouraged even to remove her hat.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And an idiot of an instructor had found fault with the large square band she wrote, as being uncommercial.
