A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more. He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself. But the fighting was over. The Germans were whipped. That had been the goal.
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 “That had been the goal.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.”
above and across; more than
From this reading “But the fighting was over.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.”
up to a particular time
From this reading “From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “The Germans were whipped.”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.”
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 From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That had been the goal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the fighting was over.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Germans were whipped.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had been the goal.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That had been the goal.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
above and across; more than
From this reading But the fighting was over.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That had been the goal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
up to a particular time
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the Bottom Up MacRae did nothing but mark time until he found himself a plain citizen once more.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the fighting was over.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Germans were whipped.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Germans were whipped.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He could have remained in the service for months without risk and with much profit to himself.
