Chapter XXIV

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

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

not being in a specified place

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

(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 So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

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

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

inflected form of “behold” — see with attention

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

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

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

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

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

a large and stately mansion

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

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

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

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

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

a natural object that covers or envelops

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

inflected form of “don” — put clothing on one's body

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

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

From this reading There he found Feargus talking with the king.

feel or handle with the fingers

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

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

From this reading He then went forth, mounted on a sorry nag, which laboured so under his weight that he had pity on it and sighed for his great grey horse.

set up or found

From this reading There he found Feargus talking with the king.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

a Gaelic-speaking Celt in Ireland or Scotland or the Isle of Man

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

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

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading He then went forth, mounted on a sorry nag, which laboured so under his weight that he had pity on it and sighed for his great grey horse.

an established custom

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

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

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

a chordophone that has a triangular frame consisting of a sounding board and a pillar and a curved neck; the strings stretched between the neck and the soundbox are plucked with the fingers

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

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

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

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

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

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

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

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

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading There he found Feargus talking with the king.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

lacking natural ease

From this reading He then went forth, mounted on a sorry nag, which laboured so under his weight that he had pity on it and sighed for his great grey horse.

inflected form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

a singer of folk songs

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

a particular point in time

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support

From this reading He then went forth, mounted on a sorry nag, which laboured so under his weight that he had pity on it and sighed for his great grey horse.

bother persistently with trivial complaints

From this reading He then went forth, mounted on a sorry nag, which laboured so under his weight that he had pity on it and sighed for his great grey horse.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

not one, and not any

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

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

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

above and across; more than

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

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

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

From this reading He then went forth, mounted on a sorry nag, which laboured so under his weight that he had pity on it and sighed for his great grey horse.

a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

possessive form of “prince” — a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily

From this reading He then went forth, mounted on a sorry nag, which laboured so under his weight that he had pity on it and sighed for his great grey horse.

inflected form of “sling” — hurl as if with a sling

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone

From this reading He then went forth, mounted on a sorry nag, which laboured so under his weight that he had pity on it and sighed for his great grey horse.

an impression that something might be the case

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading There he found Feargus talking with the king.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

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

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There he found Feargus talking with the king.

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

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

a source of difficulty

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He then went forth, mounted on a sorry nag, which laboured so under his weight that he had pity on it and sighed for his great grey horse.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading OF THE CASTLE IN THE PENTLANDS Now the prince had been absent from his father’s hall for many days and feared his anger or that suspicion might fall upon him; so that night he took his horse and rode into the city of Camelon and entered his father’s hall.

precisely as stated

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

migratory

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity

From this reading He then went forth, mounted on a sorry nag, which laboured so under his weight that he had pity on it and sighed for his great grey horse.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

at the time that

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

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

From this reading He then went forth, mounted on a sorry nag, which laboured so under his weight that he had pity on it and sighed for his great grey horse.

the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)

From this reading So he went out and donned his byrny and slung his great sword over his shoulder, and then, covering it all with the habit of a wandering minstrel, took his harp, the clarsach, or small harp of the Gael, and made himself a beard of great length and whiteness so that, having donned it, none could know him.

in the company of; together with

From this reading There he found Feargus talking with the king.

pull back or move away or backward

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading When the prince entered, Feargus turned to withdraw and, in a moment, beheld the wondrous ring on the prince’s finger; then his heart leapt for very joy, for in dire trouble had he been.