A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XII
It was nearly midday when Tom awoke. The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed. The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent. Tom rose in his bed, and rubbed his eyes. "Where am I?" he gasped; "this is--this is--ay, where am I?
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 “The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.”
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 The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Where am I?" he gasped; "this is--this is--ay, where am I?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Tom rose in his bed, and rubbed his eyes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was nearly midday when Tom awoke.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where am I?" he gasped; "this is--this is--ay, where am I?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom rose in his bed, and rubbed his eyes.
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom rose in his bed, and rubbed his eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where am I?" he gasped; "this is--this is--ay, where am I?
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Where am I?" he gasped; "this is--this is--ay, where am I?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Tom rose in his bed, and rubbed his eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Where am I?" he gasped; "this is--this is--ay, where am I?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Tom rose in his bed, and rubbed his eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Where am I?" he gasped; "this is--this is--ay, where am I?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was nearly midday when Tom awoke.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was nearly midday when Tom awoke.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was nearly midday when Tom awoke.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom rose in his bed, and rubbed his eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom rose in his bed, and rubbed his eyes.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Where am I?" he gasped; "this is--this is--ay, where am I?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was nearly midday when Tom awoke.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Town Hall clock chimed a quarter to twelve, but all else seemed strangely silent.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was nearly midday when Tom awoke.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The church bells had ceased ringing for nearly an hour, indeed at nearly all the churches the congregations were being dismissed.
at the time that
From this reading It was nearly midday when Tom awoke.
in or at the place that
From this reading "Where am I?" he gasped; "this is--this is--ay, where am I?
