A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter X
Doug worked silently. His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly. The work table was almost bare of the equipment he had ordered. The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed. Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.”
for the reason that
From this reading “His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.”
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading “The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.”
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading “The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.”
but in spite of that
From this reading “Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.”
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 His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work table was almost bare of the equipment he had ordered.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work table was almost bare of the equipment he had ordered.
for the reason that
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doug worked silently.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work table was almost bare of the equipment he had ordered.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The work table was almost bare of the equipment he had ordered.
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The work table was almost bare of the equipment he had ordered.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work table was almost bare of the equipment he had ordered.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doug worked silently.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work table was almost bare of the equipment he had ordered.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The work table was almost bare of the equipment he had ordered.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The work table was almost bare of the equipment he had ordered.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes stung, and he wasted a moment to rub them again, because he must see, must see so precisely, so exactly.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The new Contraption had devoured it into its fantastic vitals as fast as his taut hands and flagging memory were able to feed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work table was almost bare of the equipment he had ordered.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doug worked silently.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet it was useless work--the gleaming thing he had built would never so much as fry an egg.
