A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM He was in evening dress. He carried a small portfolio in his left hand. If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him. Paul Lessingham’s impenetrability is proverbial. Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
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 “If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.”
very enthusiastic or eager
From this reading “Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM He was in evening dress.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He carried a small portfolio in his left hand.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He carried a small portfolio in his left hand.”
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading “Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.”
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 carried a small portfolio in his left hand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a small portfolio in his left hand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM He was in evening dress.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM He was in evening dress.
very enthusiastic or eager
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM He was in evening dress.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a small portfolio in his left hand.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM He was in evening dress.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He carried a small portfolio in his left hand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paul Lessingham’s impenetrability is proverbial.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM He was in evening dress.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Paul Lessingham’s impenetrability is proverbial.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He carried a small portfolio in his left hand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM He was in evening dress.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paul Lessingham’s impenetrability is proverbial.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
not any; not one
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM He was in evening dress.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a small portfolio in his left hand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paul Lessingham’s impenetrability is proverbial.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a small portfolio in his left hand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM He was in evening dress.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If the discovery of my presence startled him, as it could scarcely have failed to do, he allowed no sign of surprise to escape him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM He was in evening dress.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether on platforms addressing excited crowds, or in the midst of heated discussion in the House of Commons, all the world knows that his coolness remains unruffled.
