A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter X
AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room. Bates brought in some sandwiches and a bottle of ale at midnight. “If there’s nothing more, sir—” “That is all, Bates.” And he went off sedately to his own quarters. I was restless and in no mood for bed and mourned the lack of variety in my grandfather’s library.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Bates brought in some sandwiches and a bottle of ale at midnight.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading ““If there’s nothing more, sir—” “That is all, Bates.””
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.”
up to a particular time
From this reading “AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And he went off sedately to his own quarters.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.”
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 Bates brought in some sandwiches and a bottle of ale at midnight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates brought in some sandwiches and a bottle of ale at midnight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If there’s nothing more, sir—” “That is all, Bates.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Bates brought in some sandwiches and a bottle of ale at midnight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates brought in some sandwiches and a bottle of ale at midnight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was restless and in no mood for bed and mourned the lack of variety in my grandfather’s library.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates brought in some sandwiches and a bottle of ale at midnight.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Bates brought in some sandwiches and a bottle of ale at midnight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I was restless and in no mood for bed and mourned the lack of variety in my grandfather’s library.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was restless and in no mood for bed and mourned the lack of variety in my grandfather’s library.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And he went off sedately to his own quarters.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And he went off sedately to his own quarters.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If there’s nothing more, sir—” “That is all, Bates.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “If there’s nothing more, sir—” “That is all, Bates.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was restless and in no mood for bed and mourned the lack of variety in my grandfather’s library.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates brought in some sandwiches and a bottle of ale at midnight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was restless and in no mood for bed and mourned the lack of variety in my grandfather’s library.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If there’s nothing more, sir—” “That is all, Bates.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was restless and in no mood for bed and mourned the lack of variety in my grandfather’s library.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I was restless and in no mood for bed and mourned the lack of variety in my grandfather’s library.
not any; not one
From this reading I was restless and in no mood for bed and mourned the lack of variety in my grandfather’s library.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “If there’s nothing more, sir—” “That is all, Bates.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he went off sedately to his own quarters.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he went off sedately to his own quarters.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he went off sedately to his own quarters.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was restless and in no mood for bed and mourned the lack of variety in my grandfather’s library.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates brought in some sandwiches and a bottle of ale at midnight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he went off sedately to his own quarters.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If there’s nothing more, sir—” “That is all, Bates.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates brought in some sandwiches and a bottle of ale at midnight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “If there’s nothing more, sir—” “That is all, Bates.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If there’s nothing more, sir—” “That is all, Bates.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And he went off sedately to his own quarters.
up to a particular time
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was restless and in no mood for bed and mourned the lack of variety in my grandfather’s library.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was restless and in no mood for bed and mourned the lack of variety in my grandfather’s library.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And he went off sedately to his own quarters.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN AFFAIR WITH THE CARETAKER I read in the library until late, hearing the howl of the wind outside with satisfaction in the warmth and comfort of the great room.
