Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

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

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

(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 Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

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

From this reading HOW HEREWARD PLAYED THE POTTER; AND HOW HE CHEATED THE KING.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

any thing at all

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

plural of “army” — a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

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

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

close fighting during the culmination of a military attack

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

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

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

the two together, not just one

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

past form of “cheat” — deprive somebody of something by deceit

From this reading HOW HEREWARD PLAYED THE POTTER; AND HOW HE CHEATED THE KING.

a Celtic language spoken in Cornwall

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

a prescribed selection of foods

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

one or the other of two

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

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

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

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

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

divisible by two

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading They must send out a spy, and find out news from the outer world, if news were to be gotten.

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

a printed note placed below the text on a printed page

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

a domesticated gallinaceous bird thought to be descended from the red jungle fowl

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

a group of persons together in one place

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading They must send out a spy, and find out news from the outer world, if news were to be gotten.

only a very short time before

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading HOW HEREWARD PLAYED THE POTTER; AND HOW HE CHEATED THE KING.

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

From this reading HOW HEREWARD PLAYED THE POTTER; AND HOW HE CHEATED THE KING.

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

From this reading HOW HEREWARD PLAYED THE POTTER; AND HOW HE CHEATED THE KING.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

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

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

impose something unpleasant

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading HOW HEREWARD PLAYED THE POTTER; AND HOW HE CHEATED THE KING.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

a period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

of communal life sequestered from the world under religious vows

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

used to form the superlative

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

to a great degree or extent

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading They must send out a spy, and find out news from the outer world, if news were to be gotten.

information about recent and important events

From this reading They must send out a spy, and find out news from the outer world, if news were to be gotten.

not any; not one

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

on one occasion

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading They must send out a spy, and find out news from the outer world, if news were to be gotten.

being on the outside or further from a center

From this reading They must send out a spy, and find out news from the outer world, if news were to be gotten.

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

plural of “physician” — a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

(of games) engaged in

From this reading HOW HEREWARD PLAYED THE POTTER; AND HOW HE CHEATED THE KING.

plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly

From this reading HOW HEREWARD PLAYED THE POTTER; AND HOW HE CHEATED THE KING.

intellectually productive

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

any competition

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

cause to go somewhere

From this reading They must send out a spy, and find out news from the outer world, if news were to be gotten.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

and nothing more

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

catch sight of

From this reading They must send out a spy, and find out news from the outer world, if news were to be gotten.

be hungry; go without food

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

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

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

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

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

required or under orders

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

superlative of “tall” — great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

correct by punishment or discipline

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

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

From this reading HOW HEREWARD PLAYED THE POTTER; AND HOW HE CHEATED THE KING.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

in or at that place or location

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

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

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

make an effort or attempt

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

plural of “vegetable” — edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

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

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

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

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading They of Ely were now much straitened, being shut in both by land and water; and what was to be done, either by themselves or by the king, they knew not.

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading [Footnote: The Cornish--the stoutest, tallest, and most prolific race of the South--live on hardly anything else but fish and vegetables.] Or was he gathering vast armies, from they knew not whence, to try, once and for all, another assault on the island,--it might be from several points at once?

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

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

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

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading They must send out a spy, and find out news from the outer world, if news were to be gotten.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Would William simply starve them; or at least inflict on them so perpetual a Lent,--for of fish there could be no lack, even if they ate or drove away all the fowl,--as would tame down their proud spirits; which a diet of fish and vegetables, from some ludicrous theory of monastic physicians, was supposed to do?