A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's. The Fates had seemed to combine to put it off. In the first place, Felipe Moreno had been ill. He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house. Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.
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 “In the first place, Felipe Moreno had been ill.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “In the first place, Felipe Moreno had been ill.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The Fates had seemed to combine to put it off.”
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the first place, Felipe Moreno had been ill.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Fates had seemed to combine to put it off.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Fates had seemed to combine to put it off.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, Felipe Moreno had been ill.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the first place, Felipe Moreno had been ill.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Fates had seemed to combine to put it off.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, Felipe Moreno had been ill.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, Felipe Moreno had been ill.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Fates had seemed to combine to put it off.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, Felipe Moreno had been ill.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Fates had seemed to combine to put it off.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Fates had seemed to combine to put it off.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the Senora's eldest son, and since his father's death had been at the head of his mother's house.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Fates had seemed to combine to put it off.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was sheep-shearing time in Southern California, but sheep-shearing was late at the Senora Moreno's.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without him, nothing could be done on the ranch, the Senora thought.
