adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
ANCIENTadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
badadjectiveUS /bæd/
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
bitterlyadverbUS /ˈbɪtərli/
with bitterness; in a resentful manner
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
bootynounUS /ˈbuːti/
goods or money obtained illegally
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
BritainnounUS /ˈbrɪtən/
a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; “Great Britain” is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
BritonsnounUS /ˈbrɪtənz/
plural of “briton” — a native or inhabitant of Great Britain
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
cursedadjectiveUS /kɜːrst/
deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
DruidsnounUS /ˈdruːɪdz/
plural of “druid” — a pre-Christian priest among the Celts of ancient Gaul and Britain and Ireland
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
EARLYadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
ENGLANDnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
heartiestadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrtiəst/
superlative of “hearty” — showing warm and heartfelt friendliness
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
islandersnounUS /ˈaɪləndərz/
plural of “islander” — an inhabitant of an island
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
killedverbUS /kɪld/
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
landnounUS /lænd/
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
livedverbUS /lɪvd/
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
mannernounUS /ˈmænər/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
miserableadjectiveUS /ˈmɪzərəbəl/
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
numbersnounUS /ˈnʌmbərz/
the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
persuadeverbUS /pərˈsweɪd/
win approval or support for
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
Picts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
plunderedadjectiveUS /ˈplʌndərd/
wrongfully emptied or stripped of anything of value
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
prayersnounUS /prerz/
plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
priestsnounUS /priːsts/
plural of “priest” — a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
quarrelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
questionsnounUS /ˈkwestʃənz/
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
richestadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtʃəst/
superlative of “rich” — possessing material wealth
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
RomansnounUS /ˈroʊmənz/
a New Testament book containing an exposition of the doctrines of Saint Paul; written in AD 58
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
SAXONSnounUS /ˈsæksənz/
plural of “saxon” — a member of a Germanic people who conquered England and merged with the Angles and Jutes to become Anglo-Saxons; dominant in England until the Norman Conquest
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/
only a very short time before
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
ScotsnounUS /skɑːts/
the dialect of English used in Scotland
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
seanounUS /siː/
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
Severus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
slaughternounUS /ˈslɔːtər/
the killing of animals (as for food)
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
swarmsnounUS /swɔːrmz/
plural of “swarm” — a moving crowd
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
terrornounUS /ˈterər/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
uncommonlyadverbUS /ˌʌnˈkɑːmənli/
exceptionally
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
unfortunateadjectiveUS /ənˈfɔːrtʃənət/
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading They plundered the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror.
unguardedadjectiveUS /ənˈɡɑːrdɪd/
lacking protection or a guard
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
wallnounUS /wɔːl/
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
wantingadjectiveUS /ˈwɑːntɪŋ/
nonexistent
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
warsnounUS /wɔːrz/
plural of “war” — the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of Severus, in swarms.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
wishverbUS /wɪʃ/
hope for; have a wish
From this reading ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS The Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade.
