A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XI
THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay. Sylvia was silent and looked about her with expectant eyes. "I have been lucky, Sylvia," her father had said to her. "I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born. It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Sylvia was silent and looked about her with expectant eyes.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “"I have been lucky, Sylvia," her father had said to her.”
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading “THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.”
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading “It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “"I have been lucky, Sylvia," her father had said to her.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Sylvia was silent and looked about her with expectant eyes.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.”
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 THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Sylvia was silent and looked about her with expectant eyes.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "I have been lucky, Sylvia," her father had said to her.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia was silent and looked about her with expectant eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia was silent and looked about her with expectant eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I have been lucky, Sylvia," her father had said to her.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have been lucky, Sylvia," her father had said to her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I have been lucky, Sylvia," her father had said to her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sylvia was silent and looked about her with expectant eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have been lucky, Sylvia," her father had said to her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have been lucky, Sylvia," her father had said to her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia was silent and looked about her with expectant eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I have been lucky, Sylvia," her father had said to her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sylvia was silent and looked about her with expectant eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE RUNNING WATER A week later, on a sunlit afternoon, Sylvia and her father drove northward out of Weymouth between the marshes and the bay.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sylvia was silent and looked about her with expectant eyes.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It cost me some trouble, but I was determined to get it if I could, for I had an idea that you would be pleased.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I have secured for our summer holiday the very house in which you were born.
