A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VI
The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again. Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him. The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting. But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark. Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
later than; following
From this reading “The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.”
at or toward the back of something
From this reading “Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.”
thinking that somebody or something will arrive
From this reading “The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.”
hard to find or in short supply
From this reading “Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.”
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading “The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.”
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 dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
later than; following
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
thinking that somebody or something will arrive
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.
not any; not one
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
hard to find or in short supply
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
