A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
"Let's get a breath of fresh air." Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk. Barney Menter followed his example. They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals. This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
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 “They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.”
released from a duty or job
From this reading “This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.”
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 "Let's get a breath of fresh air."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's get a breath of fresh air."
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barney Menter followed his example.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
the two together, not just one
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's get a breath of fresh air."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
released from a duty or job
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barney Menter followed his example.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barney Menter followed his example.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's get a breath of fresh air."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's get a breath of fresh air."
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's get a breath of fresh air."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barney Menter followed his example.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Let's get a breath of fresh air."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had been together only a few days, these two, but already they were pals.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was not to be wondered at, for both had been discharged recently from army aviation service--Bruce in Canada and Barney in the United States.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bruce Manning yawned and stretched, then slid off his high stool at the bookkeeping desk.
