used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The worthy baron was not of a versatile complexion.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank
From this reading The worthy baron was not of a versatile complexion.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he could not now make up his mind upon either of two questions.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading When his mind was quite made up he carried out the whole of it.
complexionnounUS /kəmˈplekʃən/
the coloring of a person's face
From this reading The worthy baron was not of a versatile complexion.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But he could not now make up his mind upon either of two questions.
one or the other of two
From this reading But he could not now make up his mind upon either of two questions.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When his mind was quite made up he carried out the whole of it.
hereditaryadjectiveUS /hərˈedəteri/
occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When his mind was quite made up he carried out the whole of it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
instinctsnounUS /ˈɪnstɪŋkts/
plural of “instinct” — inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When his mind was quite made up he carried out the whole of it.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
property that is leased or rented out or let
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading When his mind was quite made up he carried out the whole of it.
engage in
From this reading But he could not now make up his mind upon either of two questions.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading When his mind was quite made up he carried out the whole of it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The worthy baron was not of a versatile complexion.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But he could not now make up his mind upon either of two questions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The worthy baron was not of a versatile complexion.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When his mind was quite made up he carried out the whole of it.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading But he could not now make up his mind upon either of two questions.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading When his mind was quite made up he carried out the whole of it.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
stanchverbUS /stæntʃ/
stop the flow of a liquid
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The worthy baron was not of a versatile complexion.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Of these questions one was this--should he fight for the king or against him, in the struggle now begun?
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But he could not now make up his mind upon either of two questions.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When his mind was quite made up he carried out the whole of it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But he could not now make up his mind upon either of two questions.
versatileadjectiveUS /ˈvɜːrsətəl/
having great diversity or variety
From this reading The worthy baron was not of a versatile complexion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The worthy baron was not of a versatile complexion.
at the time that
From this reading When his mind was quite made up he carried out the whole of it.
which person or people
From this reading By hereditary instincts he was stanch for liberty, for letting people have their own opinions who could pay for them.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading When his mind was quite made up he carried out the whole of it.
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading The worthy baron was not of a versatile complexion.
