used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But her son had never yet done so.
cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
a young person of either sex
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading But her son had never yet done so.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
fearlessadjectiveUS /ˈfɪrləs/
oblivious of dangers or perils or calmly resolute in facing them
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
Freder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Hel, his mother, used often to go to the cathedral.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But her son had never yet done so.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
Helnoun
(Norse mythology) goddess of the dead and queen of the underworld
From this reading Hel, his mother, used often to go to the cathedral.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But her son had never yet done so.
hesitatinglyadverb
with hesitation; in a hesitant manner
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hel, his mother, used often to go to the cathedral.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Hel, his mother, used often to go to the cathedral.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But her son had never yet done so.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Hel, his mother, used often to go to the cathedral.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
pillarsnounUS /ˈpɪlərz/
plural of “pillar” — a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
piousadjectiveUS /ˈpaɪəs/
having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
reverenceverbUS /ˈrevərəns/
regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
shynessnounUS /ˈʃaɪnəs/
a feeling of fear of embarrassment
From this reading He entered the cathedral as a child, not pious, yet not entirely free from shyness—prepared for reverence, but fearless.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But her son had never yet done so.
a male human offspring
From this reading But her son had never yet done so.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
stonyadjectiveUS /ˈstoʊni/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hel, his mother, used often to go to the cathedral.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Hel, his mother, used often to go to the cathedral.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Freder walked up the steps of the cathedral hesitatingly; he was walking up them for the first time.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now he longed to see it with his mother’s eyes and to hear with the ears of Hel, his mother, the stony prayer of the pillars, each of which had its own particular voice.
but in spite of that
From this reading But her son had never yet done so.
