Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

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

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

(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 As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

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

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

third-person singular of “assume” — take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

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

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

plural of “beginning” — the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

the legendary hero of an anonymous Old English epic poem composed in the early 8th century; he slays a monster and becomes king but dies fighting a dragon

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

marked by strong resentment or cynicism

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

English printer who in 1474 printed the first book in English (1422-1491)

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

relating to or characteristic of the Celts

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

a period of 100 years

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

English poet remembered as author of the Canterbury Tales (1340-1400)

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

plural of “dialect” — the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading Then from hero's lips there fell A wonder-tale, well told.

coming next after the fourteenth and just before the sixteenth in position

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

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

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Then from hero's lips there fell A wonder-tale, well told.

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

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

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

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

possessive form of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength

From this reading Then from hero's lips there fell A wonder-tale, well told.

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

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading Then from hero's lips there fell A wonder-tale, well told.

of or relating to or characteristic of literature

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

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 _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

a town in west central Texas

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

a brief written record

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

plural of “poem” — a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

text handwritten in the style of printed matter

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

on the contrary

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

a performance of a musical composition or a dramatic role etc.

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

a small stream

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

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 As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

the act of causing something to go (especially messages)

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

truth or reality

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

plural of “spring” — the season of growth

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

successive (without a break)

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

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

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Then from hero's lips there fell A wonder-tale, well told.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Then from hero's lips there fell A wonder-tale, well told.

having come into contact

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

relating to or characteristic of a tribe

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

plural of “tributary” — a branch that flows into the main stream

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

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

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

someone engaged in or experienced in warfare

From this reading BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE Then the warrior, battle-tried, touched the sounding glee-wood: Straight awoke the harp's sweet note; straight a song uprose, Sooth and sad its music.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading That time was in the fifteenth century, when the poems of Chaucer and the printing press of Caxton exalted the Midland above all other dialects and established it as the literary language of England.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

(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 Then from hero's lips there fell A wonder-tale, well told.

the source of water for a well

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

at the time that

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

in or at the place that

From this reading As there is a place where the river assumes a character of its own, distinct from all its tributaries, so in English literature there is a time when it becomes national rather than tribal, and English rather than Saxon or Celtic or Norman.

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

From this reading _Beowulf_, line 2017 (a free rendering) In its beginnings English literature is like a river, which proceeds not from a single wellhead but from many springs, each sending forth its rivulet of sweet or bitter water.

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

From this reading Then from hero's lips there fell A wonder-tale, well told.