A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure. A mountain-climbing vacation may wind up in deep Space. Or loyalty may prove to be high treason. But it has its rewards. It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
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 “It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.”
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “But it has its rewards.”
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “A mountain-climbing vacation may wind up in deep Space.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.”
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “A mountain-climbing vacation may wind up in deep Space.”
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 In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it has its rewards.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mountain-climbing vacation may wind up in deep Space.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it has its rewards.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or loyalty may prove to be high treason.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it has its rewards.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But it has its rewards.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or loyalty may prove to be high treason.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading A mountain-climbing vacation may wind up in deep Space.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mountain-climbing vacation may wind up in deep Space.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Or loyalty may prove to be high treason.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or loyalty may prove to be high treason.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it has its rewards.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mountain-climbing vacation may wind up in deep Space.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Or loyalty may prove to be high treason.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or loyalty may prove to be high treason.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mountain-climbing vacation may wind up in deep Space.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mountain-climbing vacation may wind up in deep Space.
at the time that
From this reading It had been a tough day at the lab, one of those days when nothing seems able to go right.
in or at the place that
From this reading In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A mountain-climbing vacation may wind up in deep Space.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a world where Security is all-important, nothing can ever be secure.
