used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
in addition
From this reading Besides, the neighbour would no longer have the power of invasion were he also without great vassals.
ambitionsnounUS /æmˈbɪʃənz/
plural of “ambition” — a cherished desire
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
baronsnounUS /ˈbærənz/
plural of “baron” — a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Besides, the neighbour would no longer have the power of invasion were he also without great vassals.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
unvarying in nature
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
dictationnounUS /dɪkˈteɪʃən/
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
dominionsnounUS /dəˈmɪnjənz/
plural of “dominion” — dominance or power through legal authority
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
feudaladjectiveUS /ˈfjuːdəl/
of or relating to or characteristic of feudalism
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Besides, the neighbour would no longer have the power of invasion were he also without great vassals.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Besides, the neighbour would no longer have the power of invasion were he also without great vassals.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Besides, the neighbour would no longer have the power of invasion were he also without great vassals.
hearthsnounUS /hɑːrθs/
plural of “hearth” — an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading “'Tis so indeed, Sir Thomas.
invasionnounUS /ˌɪnˈveɪʒən/
the act of invading; the act of an army that invades for conquest or plunder
From this reading Besides, the neighbour would no longer have the power of invasion were he also without great vassals.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
for more time
From this reading Besides, the neighbour would no longer have the power of invasion were he also without great vassals.
plural of “lord” — terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
a woman of refinement
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
monarchnounUS /ˈmɑːnɑːrk/
a nation's ruler or head of state usually by hereditary right
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
neighbournounUS /ˈneɪbər/
a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
not any; not one
From this reading Besides, the neighbour would no longer have the power of invasion were he also without great vassals.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
people'snounUS /ˈpiːpəlz/
possessive form of “people” — (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Besides, the neighbour would no longer have the power of invasion were he also without great vassals.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
rivalrynounUS /ˈraɪvəlri/
the act of competing as for profit or a prize
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
term of address for a man
From this reading “'Tis so indeed, Sir Thomas.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “'Tis so indeed, Sir Thomas.
be standing; be upright
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
plural of “subject” — the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading “'Tis so indeed, Sir Thomas.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
From this reading “'Tis so indeed, Sir Thomas.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
undisturbedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈstɜːrbd/
untroubled by interference or disturbance
From this reading These great barons stand between the king and his subjects; and a monarch would be a king indeed were he able to rule without their constant dictation, and undisturbed by their rivalry and ambitions.”
vassalsnounUS /ˈvæsəlz/
plural of “vassal” — a person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord
From this reading Besides, the neighbour would no longer have the power of invasion were he also without great vassals.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
at the time that
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But without his feudal lords how could a king place an army in the field, when his dominions were threatened by a powerful neighbour?”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Then it would be the people's business to fight, madam, and I doubt not that they would do so in defence of their hearths and homes.
