A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
AN OFFER OF PARTNERSHIP. This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father. At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about. The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with. He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
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 “At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.”
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading “He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.”
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading “At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.”
having a duty to protect or manage something
From this reading “This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.”
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 This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN OFFER OF PARTNERSHIP.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN OFFER OF PARTNERSHIP.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN OFFER OF PARTNERSHIP.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN OFFER OF PARTNERSHIP.
having a duty to protect or manage something
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
