A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXXII
Bernardine stood still. She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated: "I want my son and his wife to know you, my dear. You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you." Both Jay Gardiner and his wife glanced carelessly in the direction indicated by his mother.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."”
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading “You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"I want my son and his wife to know you, my dear.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:”
brief or direct in expression
From this reading “You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Bernardine stood still.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Bernardine stood still.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."”
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading “You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."”
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 You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
the past participle of “be”
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bernardine stood still.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both Jay Gardiner and his wife glanced carelessly in the direction indicated by his mother.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Both Jay Gardiner and his wife glanced carelessly in the direction indicated by his mother.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Jay Gardiner and his wife glanced carelessly in the direction indicated by his mother.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I want my son and his wife to know you, my dear.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Jay Gardiner and his wife glanced carelessly in the direction indicated by his mother.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Jay Gardiner and his wife glanced carelessly in the direction indicated by his mother.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Jay Gardiner and his wife glanced carelessly in the direction indicated by his mother.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "I want my son and his wife to know you, my dear.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I want my son and his wife to know you, my dear.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Jay Gardiner and his wife glanced carelessly in the direction indicated by his mother.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Jay Gardiner and his wife glanced carelessly in the direction indicated by his mother.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I want my son and his wife to know you, my dear.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Jay Gardiner and his wife glanced carelessly in the direction indicated by his mother.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I want my son and his wife to know you, my dear.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
brief or direct in expression
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I want my son and his wife to know you, my dear.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Bernardine stood still.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Bernardine stood still.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I want my son and his wife to know you, my dear.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I want my son and his wife to know you, my dear.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I want my son and his wife to know you, my dear.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
