A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
HARRY LOUDON MAKES UP HIS MIND. On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds. It was all about old Aunt Matilda. Aunt Matilda was no relation of these children. She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “It was all about old Aunt Matilda.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “HARRY LOUDON MAKES UP HIS MIND.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “Aunt Matilda was no relation of these children.”
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.”
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 On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was all about old Aunt Matilda.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all about old Aunt Matilda.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all about old Aunt Matilda.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Matilda was no relation of these children.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HARRY LOUDON MAKES UP HIS MIND.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HARRY LOUDON MAKES UP HIS MIND.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was all about old Aunt Matilda.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HARRY LOUDON MAKES UP HIS MIND.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HARRY LOUDON MAKES UP HIS MIND.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all about old Aunt Matilda.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading HARRY LOUDON MAKES UP HIS MIND.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
not any; not one
From this reading Aunt Matilda was no relation of these children.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all about old Aunt Matilda.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Matilda was no relation of these children.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Aunt Matilda was no relation of these children.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HARRY LOUDON MAKES UP HIS MIND.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was all about old Aunt Matilda.
which person or people
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an old colored woman, who lived in a cabin about a quarter of a mile from their house, but they considered her one of their best friends.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a wooden bench under a great catalpa-tree, in the front yard of a comfortable country-house in Virginia, sat Harry and Kate Loudon worrying their minds.
