A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XI
Matilda went to the door and knocked. She heard nothing, and was obliged to knock again. Then the door opened, and David stood before her. What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter. Matilda went in and he closed the door.
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 “She heard nothing, and was obliged to knock again.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Then the door opened, and David stood before her.”
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading “What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “She heard nothing, and was obliged to knock again.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Then the door opened, and David stood before her.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Matilda went to the door and knocked.”
during the time that
From this reading “What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She heard nothing, and was obliged to knock again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Matilda went to the door and knocked.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Then the door opened, and David stood before her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda went in and he closed the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the door opened, and David stood before her.
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda went to the door and knocked.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard nothing, and was obliged to knock again.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Then the door opened, and David stood before her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Matilda went in and he closed the door.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard nothing, and was obliged to knock again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda went to the door and knocked.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda went to the door and knocked.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She heard nothing, and was obliged to knock again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard nothing, and was obliged to knock again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the door opened, and David stood before her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She heard nothing, and was obliged to knock again.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then the door opened, and David stood before her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Matilda went to the door and knocked.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the door opened, and David stood before her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Matilda went to the door and knocked.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She heard nothing, and was obliged to knock again.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Matilda went to the door and knocked.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
during the time that
From this reading What to say to him Matilda had not just determined, and while she hesitated he stepped back, mutely inviting her to enter.
