aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
axnounUS /æks/
an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
From this reading Then Brian saw that the ax had been changed, and wondered at it.
ax-blade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
back-curving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
BAITINGnounUS /ˈbeɪtɪŋ/
harassment especially of a tethered animal
From this reading THE BAITING OF CATHBARR.
beardedadjectiveUS /ˈbɪrdəd/
having hair on the cheeks and chin
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Then Brian saw that the ax had been changed, and wondered at it.
bladesnounUS /bleɪdz/
plural of “blade” — especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
bluntadjectiveUS /blʌnt/
having a broad or rounded end
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
Brian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
CATHBARR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BAITING OF CATHBARR.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Then Brian saw that the ax had been changed, and wondered at it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
filesnounUS /faɪlz/
plural of “file” — a set of related records (either written or electronic) kept together
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then Brian saw that the ax had been changed, and wondered at it.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
mail-shirt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BAITING OF CATHBARR.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
rovingnounUS /ˈroʊvɪŋ/
travelling about without any clear destination
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
rubbedverbUS /rʌbd/
inflected form of “rub” — move over something with pressure
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
cut with a saw
From this reading Then Brian saw that the ax had been changed, and wondered at it.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
that is looked for
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
not in physical motion
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
taperingadjectiveUS /ˈteɪpərɪŋ/
becoming gradually narrower
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BAITING OF CATHBARR.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then Brian saw that the ax had been changed, and wondered at it.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
a special situation
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
precisely as stated
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
in or at the place that
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading One of the long, back-curving blades had been rubbed down with files, so that it was very tapering and thin like an ordinary ax-blade, while the other was still the blunt, heavy thing it had always been.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Well did Brian know whom he sought, but it was vain, for Cathbarr could not see him where he lay.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Then Brian saw that the ax had been changed, and wondered at it.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading The bearded giant still wore the long mail-shirt that reached to his knees, and he paused at the doorway with his eyes roving about the hall.
