A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
Another week passed. She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse. Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse. Her nature revolted against it; but she must do what was best for the child. She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading “Her nature revolted against it; but she must do what was best for the child.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Another week passed.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.”
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading “She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.”
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “Her nature revolted against it; but she must do what was best for the child.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Another week passed.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.”
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 She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Her nature revolted against it; but she must do what was best for the child.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Another week passed.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her nature revolted against it; but she must do what was best for the child.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her nature revolted against it; but she must do what was best for the child.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Her nature revolted against it; but she must do what was best for the child.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Her nature revolted against it; but she must do what was best for the child.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her nature revolted against it; but she must do what was best for the child.
not any; not one
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Another week passed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her nature revolted against it; but she must do what was best for the child.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another week passed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been to the hospital every day, but no one had been to inquire for a wet-nurse.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Her nature revolted against it; but she must do what was best for the child.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her money was reduced to a few shillings, and she tried to reconcile herself to the idea that she might do worse than to accept the harsh shelter of the workhouse.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She often asked herself how it would all end, and the more she thought, the more terrible did the future seem.
