A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up. His captor was releasing him. He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up. You see what happens." Alan was too stunned to reply for several moments.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
at or toward the back of something
From this reading “Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.”
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Alan was too stunned to reply for several moments.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.”
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading “He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.”
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 He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His captor was releasing him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You see what happens."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His captor was releasing him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alan was too stunned to reply for several moments.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His captor was releasing him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alan was too stunned to reply for several moments.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You see what happens."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alan was too stunned to reply for several moments.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alan was too stunned to reply for several moments.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alan was too stunned to reply for several moments.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His captor was releasing him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading You see what happens."
at the time that
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You see what happens."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
