A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VII
THE BOTTOM DRAWER That night he realised his own picture. One o'clock was the hour suggested by Miss Casata. Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing. It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns. If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
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 “It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.”
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading “It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “One o'clock was the hour suggested by Miss Casata.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.”
any one of a set, it does not matter which
From this reading “It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BOTTOM DRAWER That night he realised his own picture.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One o'clock was the hour suggested by Miss Casata.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One o'clock was the hour suggested by Miss Casata.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BOTTOM DRAWER That night he realised his own picture.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE BOTTOM DRAWER That night he realised his own picture.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE BOTTOM DRAWER That night he realised his own picture.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One o'clock was the hour suggested by Miss Casata.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One o'clock was the hour suggested by Miss Casata.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BOTTOM DRAWER That night he realised his own picture.
not any; not one
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One o'clock was the hour suggested by Miss Casata.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One o'clock was the hour suggested by Miss Casata.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BOTTOM DRAWER That night he realised his own picture.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BOTTOM DRAWER That night he realised his own picture.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BOTTOM DRAWER That night he realised his own picture.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One o'clock was the hour suggested by Miss Casata.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE BOTTOM DRAWER That night he realised his own picture.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BOTTOM DRAWER That night he realised his own picture.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty times before that hour arrived he told himself that he had better return to Africa--ghosts or no ghosts--than do this thing.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One o'clock was the hour suggested by Miss Casata.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
any one of a set, it does not matter which
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he did this thing he would break his plighted word; quite possibly lose his love and his fortune too.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It seemed to him that dishonour hedged him round about; that whichever way he went he would find himself among the thorns.
