A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter X
A LONG YEAR IN A SHORT CHAPTER. It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed. Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her. She only wished there had been. Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
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 was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “She only wished there had been.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “A LONG YEAR IN A SHORT CHAPTER.”
no person; not anyone
From this reading “Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.”
went away to a private place
From this reading “Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.”
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading “Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.”
brief or direct in expression
From this reading “A LONG YEAR IN A SHORT CHAPTER.”
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 A LONG YEAR IN A SHORT CHAPTER.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She only wished there had been.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LONG YEAR IN A SHORT CHAPTER.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A LONG YEAR IN A SHORT CHAPTER.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A LONG YEAR IN A SHORT CHAPTER.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
not any; not one
From this reading Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She only wished there had been.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.
went away to a private place
From this reading Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She only wished there had been.
brief or direct in expression
From this reading A LONG YEAR IN A SHORT CHAPTER.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Christmas Eve, and Eyebright, alone in the kitchen, was hanging up the stockings before going to bed.
at the time that
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
which person or people
From this reading Papa, who had a headache, had retired early, so there was no one to interrupt her.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Half the fun of Christmas seems missing when there is nobody from whom to keep a secret, no mystery, no hiding of things in corners and bringing them out at just the right moment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She only wished there had been.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LONG YEAR IN A SHORT CHAPTER.
