A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VII
The Reverend Septimus Marvin had lost his wife five years earlier. It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since. Which was untrue. Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth. Septimus Marvin had, so to speak, been the same man since infancy.
Reading 1/33 · 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 commonly said that he had never been the same man since.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.”
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Septimus Marvin had, so to speak, been the same man since infancy.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Reverend Septimus Marvin had lost his wife five years earlier.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Reverend Septimus Marvin had lost his wife five years earlier.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Reverend Septimus Marvin had lost his wife five years earlier.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Reverend Septimus Marvin had lost his wife five years earlier.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Septimus Marvin had, so to speak, been the same man since infancy.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Reverend Septimus Marvin had lost his wife five years earlier.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Reverend Septimus Marvin had lost his wife five years earlier.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Reverend Septimus Marvin had lost his wife five years earlier.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Reverend Septimus Marvin had lost his wife five years earlier.
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Septimus Marvin had, so to speak, been the same man since infancy.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Septimus Marvin had, so to speak, been the same man since infancy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Reverend Septimus Marvin had lost his wife five years earlier.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which was untrue.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was commonly said that he had never been the same man since.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Which was untrue.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Reverend Septimus Marvin had lost his wife five years earlier.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Much that is commonly said will, on investigation, be found to be far from the truth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Reverend Septimus Marvin had lost his wife five years earlier.
