used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
AlfrednounUS /ˈælfrəd/
king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
Alfred's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The time at last was ripe to strike the final blow.
Athelney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
beaconnounUS /ˈbiːkən/
a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
exhale hard
From this reading The time at last was ripe to strike the final blow.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
DanesnounUS /deɪnz/
plural of “dane” — a native or inhabitant of Denmark
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
disciplinenounUS /ˈdɪsəplən/
a branch of knowledge
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/
your usual mood
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
ealdormen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading Egbert’s stone, twenty-six miles east of Selwood, was the place of the tryst.
Egbert's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Egbert’s stone, twenty-six miles east of Selwood, was the place of the tryst.
finaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading The time at last was ripe to strike the final blow.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
the act of giving
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
Guthrum's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
kindledadjectiveUS /ˈkɪndəld/
set afire
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
immediately past
From this reading The time at last was ripe to strike the final blow.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
messengersnounUS /ˈmesəndʒərz/
plural of “messenger” — a person who carries a message
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Egbert’s stone, twenty-six miles east of Selwood, was the place of the tryst.
neighboringadjectiveUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/
having a common boundary or edge; abutting; touching
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Egbert’s stone, twenty-six miles east of Selwood, was the place of the tryst.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
ripeadjectiveUS /raɪp/
fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used
From this reading The time at last was ripe to strike the final blow.
satisfyingadjectiveUS /ˈsætɪsfaɪɪŋ/
providing abundant nourishment
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
Selwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Egbert’s stone, twenty-six miles east of Selwood, was the place of the tryst.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
shiresnounUS /ʃaɪrz/
plural of “shire” — a former administrative district of England; equivalent to a county
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
plural of “stand” — a support or foundation
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Egbert’s stone, twenty-six miles east of Selwood, was the place of the tryst.
Stourton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading The time at last was ripe to strike the final blow.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The time at last was ripe to strike the final blow.
thegns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The time at last was ripe to strike the final blow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The time at last was ripe to strike the final blow.
the upper part of anything
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
trystnounUS /trɪst/
a date; usually with a member of the opposite sex
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
twenty-sixadjective
being six more than twenty
From this reading Egbert’s stone, twenty-six miles east of Selwood, was the place of the tryst.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading By his visit into Guthrum’s camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The time at last was ripe to strike the final blow.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading After satisfying himself as to the chances of a sudden attack, he had returned to Athelney and sent messengers to the thegns and ealdormen of neighboring shires, giving them a tryst for the second week in May.
in or at the place that
From this reading The signal for the gathering of the forces was to be a beacon light kindled on the top of Stourton’s hill, where Alfred’s Tower now stands.
