used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But the village where Gunnar was now settled was a holy village, because of Frey's house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Men killed pigs and sheep, and drank their mead out of horns.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was proper that no feast should be held unless Frey were present at it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was proper that no feast should be held unless Frey were present at it.
for the reason that
From this reading But the village where Gunnar was now settled was a holy village, because of Frey's house.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the village where Gunnar was now settled was a holy village, because of Frey's house.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids
From this reading Men killed pigs and sheep, and drank their mead out of horns.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading It was proper that no feast should be held unless Frey were present at it.
FEASTSnounUS /fiːsts/
plural of “feast” — a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was the time for skalds and story-tellers.
FreynounUS /freɪ/
(Norse mythology) god of earth's fertility and peace and prosperity; son of Njorth and brother of Freya; originally of the Vanir; later with the Aesir
From this reading It was proper that no feast should be held unless Frey were present at it.
Frey'snounUS /freɪz/
possessive form of “frey” — (Norse mythology) god of earth's fertility and peace and prosperity; son of Njorth and brother of Freya; originally of the Vanir; later with the Aesir
From this reading But the village where Gunnar was now settled was a holy village, because of Frey's house.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
Gunnar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the village where Gunnar was now settled was a holy village, because of Frey's house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading It was proper that no feast should be held unless Frey were present at it.
a sacred place of pilgrimage
From this reading But the village where Gunnar was now settled was a holy village, because of Frey's house.
hornsnounUS /hɔːrnz/
plural of “horn” — a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it
From this reading Men killed pigs and sheep, and drank their mead out of horns.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading But the village where Gunnar was now settled was a holy village, because of Frey's house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was proper that no feast should be held unless Frey were present at it.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading Men killed pigs and sheep, and drank their mead out of horns.
engage in
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
meadnounUS /miːd/
United States anthropologist noted for her claims about adolescence and sexual behavior in Polynesian cultures (1901-1978)
From this reading Men killed pigs and sheep, and drank their mead out of horns.
the force of workers available
From this reading Men killed pigs and sheep, and drank their mead out of horns.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
not any; not one
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But the village where Gunnar was now settled was a holy village, because of Frey's house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Men killed pigs and sheep, and drank their mead out of horns.
pigsnounUS /pɪɡz/
plural of “pig” — domestic swine
From this reading Men killed pigs and sheep, and drank their mead out of horns.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It was proper that no feast should be held unless Frey were present at it.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading It was proper that no feast should be held unless Frey were present at it.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading But the village where Gunnar was now settled was a holy village, because of Frey's house.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading Men killed pigs and sheep, and drank their mead out of horns.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was proper that no feast should be held unless Frey were present at it.
skalds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the time for skalds and story-tellers.
story-tellers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the time for skalds and story-tellers.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was proper that no feast should be held unless Frey were present at it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Men killed pigs and sheep, and drank their mead out of horns.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the time for skalds and story-tellers.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading This was the time for skalds and story-tellers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
except if; if not
From this reading It was proper that no feast should be held unless Frey were present at it.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading But the village where Gunnar was now settled was a holy village, because of Frey's house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was proper that no feast should be held unless Frey were present at it.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
at the time that
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
in or at the place that
From this reading But the village where Gunnar was now settled was a holy village, because of Frey's house.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE WINTER FEASTS The custom of the winter, when no man could work, was to make merry with what you had gained in the summer.
