A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXV
Hilda knew her father. He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him. He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out. Probably it was because he was so exceedingly human.... Therefore he was drawn irresistibly to his purchasing department and to Bonbright Foote.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
for the reason that
From this reading “Probably it was because he was so exceedingly human....”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.”
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading “He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.”
for that reason; as a result
From this reading “Therefore he was drawn irresistibly to his purchasing department and to Bonbright Foote.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
for the reason that
From this reading Probably it was because he was so exceedingly human....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore he was drawn irresistibly to his purchasing department and to Bonbright Foote.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore he was drawn irresistibly to his purchasing department and to Bonbright Foote.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore he was drawn irresistibly to his purchasing department and to Bonbright Foote.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably it was because he was so exceedingly human....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda knew her father.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore he was drawn irresistibly to his purchasing department and to Bonbright Foote.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Hilda knew her father.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda knew her father.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably it was because he was so exceedingly human....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore he was drawn irresistibly to his purchasing department and to Bonbright Foote.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda knew her father.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably it was because he was so exceedingly human....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore he was drawn irresistibly to his purchasing department and to Bonbright Foote.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Probably it was because he was so exceedingly human....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He could not keep his hands off any matter that interested him, and most matters did interest him.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Therefore he was drawn irresistibly to his purchasing department and to Bonbright Foote.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had grown to have an idea that he could take hold of almost any sort of tangle or enterprise or concern and straighten it out.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Probably it was because he was so exceedingly human....
