used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
abolishedverbUS /əˈbɑːlɪʃt/
past form of “abolish” — do away with
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
adoptedadjectiveUS /əˈdɑːptɪd/
acquired as your own by free choice
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
adultnounUS /əˈdʌlt/
a fully developed person from maturity onward
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
ascendancynounUS /əˈsendənsi/
the state that exists when one person or group has power over another
From this reading In fact, the moral ascendancy soon rested with the subject race.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
power to direct or determine
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
customsnounUS /ˈkʌstəmz/
money collected under a tariff
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
one or the other of two
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, the moral ascendancy soon rested with the subject race.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
grandsonnounUS /ˈɡrændsʌn/
a male grandchild
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, the moral ascendancy soon rested with the subject race.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
modesnounUS /moʊdz/
plural of “mode” — how something is done or how it happens
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/
concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
From this reading In fact, the moral ascendancy soon rested with the subject race.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
used to form the superlative
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "Very well, Mother."
absolutely essential
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
not any; not one
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
not one, and not any
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
NormannounUS /ˈnɔːrmən/
United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
Norman'snounUS /ˈnɔːrmənz/
possessive form of “norman” — United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
Normans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
obedientadjectiveUS /oʊˈbiːdiənt/
dutifully complying with the commands or instructions of those in authority
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
any competition
From this reading In fact, the moral ascendancy soon rested with the subject race.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading In fact, the moral ascendancy soon rested with the subject race.
SaxonnounUS /ˈsæksən/
a member of a Germanic people who conquered England and merged with the Angles and Jutes to become Anglo-Saxons; dominant in England until the Norman Conquest
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
SaxonsnounUS /ˈsæksənz/
plural of “saxon” — a member of a Germanic people who conquered England and merged with the Angles and Jutes to become Anglo-Saxons; dominant in England until the Norman Conquest
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
sneeredverbUS /snɪrd/
past form of “sneer” — express through a scornful smile
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
a male human offspring
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
in the near future
From this reading In fact, the moral ascendancy soon rested with the subject race.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading In fact, the moral ascendancy soon rested with the subject race.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
thrallnounUS /θrɔːl/
the state of being under the control of another person
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
towelnounUS /ˈtaʊəl/
a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
vanquishedverbUS /ˈvæŋkwɪʃt/
past form of “vanquish” — come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Very well, Mother."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
washedadjectiveUS /wɑːʃt/
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
(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 "Very well, Mother."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
which person or people
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
wipedverbUS /waɪpt/
past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading The Norman noble who dried his washed hands in the air, sneered at the Saxon thrall who wiped his on a towel; but the towel was none the less an article of necessary furniture in the house of the Norman's grandson.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading With the Saxons a mother had always been under the control of an adult son; and the Normans who had won possession of England had by no means abolished either the social customs or modes of thought of the vanquished people.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading This youth had been well trained, and was far more obedient to his adopted mother than most sons at that time were to their real parents.
