A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VI
It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before. The operation interested him keenly. He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door. When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement. First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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 was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.”
at or toward the back of something
From this reading “He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.”
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading “First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.”
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading “When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.”
with sharp attention or strong interest
From this reading “The operation interested him keenly.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.”
above and across; more than
From this reading “He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.”
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 First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The operation interested him keenly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The operation interested him keenly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
with sharp attention or strong interest
From this reading The operation interested him keenly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The operation interested him keenly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
above and across; more than
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The operation interested him keenly.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
at the time that
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
