A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss. She had only gone somewhere. It was then that Angus Macayre began to be my tutor. He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life. He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading “He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It was then that Angus Macayre began to be my tutor.”
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading “He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.”
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.”
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 It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was then that Angus Macayre began to be my tutor.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was then that Angus Macayre began to be my tutor.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was then that Angus Macayre began to be my tutor.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had only gone somewhere.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had only gone somewhere.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was then that Angus Macayre began to be my tutor.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was then that Angus Macayre began to be my tutor.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had only gone somewhere.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had only gone somewhere.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had only gone somewhere.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been a profound student and had lived among books all his life.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was then that Angus Macayre began to be my tutor.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was then that Angus Macayre began to be my tutor.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had helped Jean in her training of me, and I had learned more than is usually taught to children in their early years.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
at the time that
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was when I was ten years old that Wee Elspeth ceased coming to me, and though I missed her at first, it was not with a sense of grief or final loss.
