adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
a-quarrelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
argumentsnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənts/
plural of “argument” — a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At that the fool, being a very coward, had fled incontinently through the trees.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
bellsnounUS /belz/
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
brackennounUS /ˈbrækən/
fern of southeastern Asia; not hardy in cold temperate regions
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
contentionnounUS /kənˈtenʃən/
a point asserted as part of an argument
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
cowardnounUS /ˈkaʊərd/
a person who shows fear or timidity
From this reading At that the fool, being a very coward, had fled incontinently through the trees.
crookedadjectiveUS /ˈkrʊkəd/
having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
driveverbUS /draɪv/
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
dugnounUS /dʌɡ/
an udder or breast or teat
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
findingnounUS /ˈfaɪndɪŋ/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
fledverbUS /fled/
inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading At that the fool, being a very coward, had fled incontinently through the trees.
flyingadjectiveUS /ˈflaɪɪŋ/
moving swiftly
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
foolnounUS /fuːl/
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
forcenounUS /fɔːrs/
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
friarnounUS /ˈfraɪər/
a male member of a religious order that originally relied solely on alms
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
girthnounUS /ɡɜːrθ/
the distance around a person's body
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
glorynounUS /ˈɡlɔːri/
a state of high honor
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
groannounUS /ɡroʊn/
an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
guessedverbUS /ɡest/
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
half-hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
incontinently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At that the fool, being a very coward, had fled incontinently through the trees.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
jester'snounUS /ˈdʒestərz/
possessive form of “jester” — a professional clown employed to entertain a king or nobleman in the Middle Ages
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
learnverbUS /lɜːrn/
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
limbnounUS /lɪm/
one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
matchverbUS /mætʃ/
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
misshapenadjectiveUS /mɪsˈʃeɪpən/
so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
nosenounUS /noʊz/
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
NowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
oathnounUS /oʊθ/
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
pluckedadjectiveUS /plʌkt/
of a stringed instrument; sounded with the fingers or a plectrum
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
punyadjectiveUS /ˈpjuːni/
inferior in strength or significance
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
RunningadjectiveUS /ˈrʌnɪŋ/
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
sandalnounUS /ˈsændəl/
a shoe consisting of a sole fastened by straps to the foot
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
shamenounUS /ʃeɪm/
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
shotnounUS /ʃɑːt/
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
sidesnounUS /saɪdz/
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
skullnounUS /skʌl/
the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
spokenadjectiveUS /ˈspoʊkən/
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
stoutadjectiveUS /staʊt/
dependable
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
subjectnounUS /səbˈdʒekt/
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
tinklenounUS /ˈtɪŋkəl/
a light clear metallic sound as of a small bell
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
treesnounUS /triːz/
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading At that the fool, being a very coward, had fled incontinently through the trees.
trippingadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪpɪŋ/
characterized by a buoyant rhythm
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading At that the fool, being a very coward, had fled incontinently through the trees.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Running, like the fool he was, with his head turned to learn whether the good father followed him, he never saw the figure that lay half-hidden in the bracken, and might never have guessed its presence but that tripping over it he shot forward, with a tinkle of bells, on to his crooked nose.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading He sat up with a groan, which was answered by an oath from the man into whose sides he had dug his flying feet.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The fool and the friar had fallen a-quarrelling, and--to the shame of the friar and the glory of the fool be it spoken--their subject of contention was a woman.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading Now the friar, finding himself no match for the fool in words, and being as broad and stout of girth and limb as the other was puny and misshapen, he had plucked off his sandal that with it he might drive the full force of his arguments through the jester's skull.
