A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
_Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it. You might get it, you know...._ Preface ... _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse. For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system. A return to Czarism?
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 “_For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.”
earlier than; in front of
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “_For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You might get it, you know...._ Preface ...”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “_Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “You might get it, you know...._ Preface ...”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “_Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “_Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.”
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 A return to Czarism?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A return to Czarism?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You might get it, you know...._ Preface ...
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading You might get it, you know...._ Preface ...
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You might get it, you know...._ Preface ...
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A return to Czarism?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
