Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

(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 They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

in addition

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

for the reason that

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

plural of “chief” — a person who is in charge

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

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

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

plural of “counsel” — a lawyer who pleads cases in court

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

plural of “dane” — a native or inhabitant of Denmark

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

separated into parts or pieces

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

past form of “fare” — proceed or get along

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

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

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

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

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

not solid; having a space or gap or cavity

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

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

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

the force of workers available

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

plural of “messenger” — a person who carries a message

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

not one, and not any

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

the act of stealing valuable things from a place

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

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

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

express in words

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

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

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

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

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

express in speech

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

plural of “store” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

for that reason; as a result

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

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

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

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

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

interact in a certain way

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

a state of peace agreed to between opponents so they can discuss peace terms

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

precisely as stated

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat with him for peace; but none came.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

during the time that

From this reading They were very short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for their plundering while we waited.

which person or people

From this reading From the town at times we could hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there were divided counsels among them that led to blows.

disposed or inclined toward

From this reading At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some chiefs might come and speak with him.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.

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

From this reading Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with them.