A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXI
LET US PRAY! That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another. One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew. Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man! Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
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 “That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.”
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!”
truthful and trustworthy
From this reading “Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.”
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “LET US PRAY!”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.”
except if; if not
From this reading “That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.”
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 Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
truthful and trustworthy
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading LET US PRAY!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
not any; not one
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LET US PRAY!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
except if; if not
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading LET US PRAY!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
in or at the place that
From this reading That was the sole chink in the prison where these two sat immured alone from their kind--unless, indeed, the curate might know of another.
which person or people
From this reading Even George Bascombe, who did not believe one thing he said, counted him an honest man!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading One thing Helen had ground for being certain of--that the curate would tell them no more than he knew.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Might she venture to consult him, putting the case as of a person who had done very wrong--say stolen money or committed forgery or something?
