A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVIII
Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness. "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own. Ruth was docile. She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring. Hilda could not understand her, and was troubled.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Hilda could not understand her, and was troubled.”
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading “She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Hilda could not understand her, and was troubled.”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.”
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 Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Hilda could not understand her, and was troubled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ruth was docile.
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
not any; not one
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda could not understand her, and was troubled.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hilda could not understand her, and was troubled.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Hilda Lightener had found Ruth strangely quiet, with a manner which was not indifference to her imminent marriage, but which seemed more like numbness.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She offered no objection to any suggestion offered by Hilda, accepted every plan without demurring.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You act as if you were going to be hanged instead of married," Hilda told her, and found no smile answering her own.
