A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXIV
How it all happened I have but a misty notion. My eyelids were twitching; my eyes were neither shut nor open. I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done. I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her. There were the attendant demons, one on either side.
Reading 1/18 · 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 -ing form of “be”
From this reading “I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.”
one or the other of two
From this reading “There were the attendant demons, one on either side.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “How it all happened I have but a misty notion.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.”
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.”
not one and not the other of two
From this reading “My eyelids were twitching; my eyes were neither shut nor open.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “There were the attendant demons, one on either side.”
To move from a closed position.
From this reading “My eyelids were twitching; my eyes were neither shut nor open.”
above and across; more than
From this reading “I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.”
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 How it all happened I have but a misty notion.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How it all happened I have but a misty notion.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were the attendant demons, one on either side.
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading How it all happened I have but a misty notion.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were the attendant demons, one on either side.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
one or the other of two
From this reading There were the attendant demons, one on either side.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My eyelids were twitching; my eyes were neither shut nor open.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My eyelids were twitching; my eyes were neither shut nor open.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How it all happened I have but a misty notion.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading How it all happened I have but a misty notion.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How it all happened I have but a misty notion.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading How it all happened I have but a misty notion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading How it all happened I have but a misty notion.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How it all happened I have but a misty notion.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My eyelids were twitching; my eyes were neither shut nor open.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading My eyelids were twitching; my eyes were neither shut nor open.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading My eyelids were twitching; my eyes were neither shut nor open.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How it all happened I have but a misty notion.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were the attendant demons, one on either side.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There were the attendant demons, one on either side.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading My eyelids were twitching; my eyes were neither shut nor open.
above and across; more than
From this reading I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My eyelids were twitching; my eyes were neither shut nor open.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were the attendant demons, one on either side.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were the attendant demons, one on either side.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My eyelids were twitching; my eyes were neither shut nor open.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My eyelids were twitching; my eyes were neither shut nor open.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I could not look, nor hide from myself the knowledge of what was being done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw the silent woman, the whiteness of her flesh, the gleam of steel, the tall figure stooping over her.
