Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

(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 words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading “‘If there be a God, let Him deliver you,’” repeated Alfred, and it seemed to him as if a Voice replied, “Is My Arm shortened, that It cannot save?”

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “‘If there be a God, let Him deliver you,’” repeated Alfred, and it seemed to him as if a Voice replied, “Is My Arm shortened, that It cannot save?”

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the child of your aunt or uncle

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

inflected form of “defy” — resist or confront with resistance

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

a state in which all hope is lost or absent

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

the power to use something or someone

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

divisible by two

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

steadfast in affection or allegiance

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the state of being honored

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.”

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

in an impious manner

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

resulting from one's intentions

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.”

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “‘If there be a God, let Him deliver you,’” repeated Alfred, and it seemed to him as if a Voice replied, “Is My Arm shortened, that It cannot save?”

an old word for “no”

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

pay back

From this reading “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.”

recurring again and again

From this reading “‘If there be a God, let Him deliver you,’” repeated Alfred, and it seemed to him as if a Voice replied, “Is My Arm shortened, that It cannot save?”

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading “‘If there be a God, let Him deliver you,’” repeated Alfred, and it seemed to him as if a Voice replied, “Is My Arm shortened, that It cannot save?”

(theology) the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

except for; apart from

From this reading “‘If there be a God, let Him deliver you,’” repeated Alfred, and it seemed to him as if a Voice replied, “Is My Arm shortened, that It cannot save?”

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

cut short

From this reading “‘If there be a God, let Him deliver you,’” repeated Alfred, and it seemed to him as if a Voice replied, “Is My Arm shortened, that It cannot save?”

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

(law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

doomed to extinction

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the state of being under the control of another person

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

not known

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life

From this reading “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.”

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading “‘If there be a God, let Him deliver you,’” repeated Alfred, and it seemed to him as if a Voice replied, “Is My Arm shortened, that It cannot save?”

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading But how salvation was to come, and even in what mode danger was to be expected, was unknown to them; nay, was even unguessed.

at the time that

From this reading When the door was finally closed upon the brothers and their faithful thrall, Alfred did not give way to despair.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

belonging to which person

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.”

the words that are spoken

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The words of Ragnar, “If there be a God, let Him deliver you,” had sunk deeply into his heart, and had produced precisely the opposite effect to that which his cousin had intended; it seemed as if his cause were thus committed to the great Being in Whose Hand was the disposal of all things; as if His Honour were at stake, Whom the murderer had so impiously defied.