A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IX
THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature. "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being. Every human being is infinite, and will beat your understanding in the end." The reference of course was to his wife. Since the automobile accident she had become another person and a more complex person.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
later than; following
From this reading “"After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “"After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “"After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.”
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “"After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The reference of course was to his wife.”
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading “Every human being is infinite, and will beat your understanding in the end."”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “"After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “"After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.”
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “Since the automobile accident she had become another person and a more complex person.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.”
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading “THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.”
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 "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the automobile accident she had become another person and a more complex person.
later than; following
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Every human being is infinite, and will beat your understanding in the end."
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the automobile accident she had become another person and a more complex person.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every human being is infinite, and will beat your understanding in the end."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the automobile accident she had become another person and a more complex person.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the automobile accident she had become another person and a more complex person.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The reference of course was to his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every human being is infinite, and will beat your understanding in the end."
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every human being is infinite, and will beat your understanding in the end."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The reference of course was to his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every human being is infinite, and will beat your understanding in the end."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Every human being is infinite, and will beat your understanding in the end."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the automobile accident she had become another person and a more complex person.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the automobile accident she had become another person and a more complex person.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reference of course was to his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Since the automobile accident she had become another person and a more complex person.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since the automobile accident she had become another person and a more complex person.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every human being is infinite, and will beat your understanding in the end."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "After all," he reflected, "I must have been a very simple-minded man to have thought that I thoroughly understood another human being.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The reference of course was to his wife.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reference of course was to his wife.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Every human being is infinite, and will beat your understanding in the end."
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading THE THEORY OF IDLENESS I Within the next seven days Mr. Prohack had reason to lose confidence in himself as an expert in human nature.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Every human being is infinite, and will beat your understanding in the end."
