A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
‘God only knows how we missed the turning. The forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking. But the damned things don’t bark when they’re wanted.’ He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge. He again covered up his ear.
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 “He again covered up his ear.”
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading “He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.”
moving with quick light beats or trembles
From this reading “He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.”
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading “The forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.”
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 forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He again covered up his ear.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the damned things don’t bark when they’re wanted.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the damned things don’t bark when they’re wanted.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He again covered up his ear.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the damned things don’t bark when they’re wanted.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the damned things don’t bark when they’re wanted.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
moving with quick light beats or trembles
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘God only knows how we missed the turning.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘God only knows how we missed the turning.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘God only knows how we missed the turning.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘God only knows how we missed the turning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘God only knows how we missed the turning.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading The forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘God only knows how we missed the turning.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the damned things don’t bark when they’re wanted.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the damned things don’t bark when they’re wanted.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘God only knows how we missed the turning.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He again covered up his ear.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the damned things don’t bark when they’re wanted.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The forest ought to be there, and a watchman’s hut, and dogs barking.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading ‘God only knows how we missed the turning.
at the time that
From this reading But the damned things don’t bark when they’re wanted.’
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his collar down from his ear and listened, but as before only the whistling of the wind could be heard, the flapping and fluttering of the kerchief tied to the shafts, and the pelting of the snow against the woodwork of the sledge.
