A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXVIII
Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst? Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst? Nay! I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake! They're qualified--they're tricks--they break-- They're words, the other kind!
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!”
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading “I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!”
an old word for “no”
From this reading “Nay!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!”
except for; apart from
From this reading “I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?”
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 Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They're qualified--they're tricks--they break-- They're words, the other kind!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They're qualified--they're tricks--they break-- They're words, the other kind!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
an old word for “no”
From this reading Nay!
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They're qualified--they're tricks--they break-- They're words, the other kind!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They're qualified--they're tricks--they break-- They're words, the other kind!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
except for; apart from
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They're qualified--they're tricks--they break-- They're words, the other kind!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They're qualified--they're tricks--they break-- They're words, the other kind!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They're qualified--they're tricks--they break-- They're words, the other kind!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!
in the company of; together with
From this reading Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They're qualified--they're tricks--they break-- They're words, the other kind!
