Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

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

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

the first of the Old Testament patriarchs and the father of Isaac; according to Genesis, God promised to give Abraham's family (the Hebrews) the land of Canaan (the Promised Land); God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

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

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

protective covering made of metal and used in combat

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Many other things we might have seen, worthy of being attended to, had there been time to look at them.

playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment

From this reading Many other things we might have seen, worthy of being attended to, had there been time to look at them.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

have

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

an alloy of copper and zinc

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

an occurrence of something

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

plural of “century” — a period of 100 years

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

anything that covers or conceals

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

not invading healthy tissue

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

embellished with a raised pattern created by pressure or embroidery

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

an article of clothing

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

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

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Many other things we might have seen, worthy of being attended to, had there been time to look at them.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

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

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

-ing form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

(used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Many other things we might have seen, worthy of being attended to, had there been time to look at them.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

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 Many other things we might have seen, worthy of being attended to, had there been time to look at them.

English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

(used as an intensifier) extremely well

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Many other things we might have seen, worthy of being attended to, had there been time to look at them.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Many other things we might have seen, worthy of being attended to, had there been time to look at them.

owed as a debt

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

possessive form of “raleigh” — English courtier (a favorite of Elizabeth I) who tried to colonize Virginia; introduced potatoes and tobacco to England (1552-1618)

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

on the contrary

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

cut with a saw

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

a three-dimensional work of plastic art

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Many other things we might have seen, worthy of being attended to, had there been time to look at them.

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

term of address for a man

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

not in physical motion

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

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

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Many other things we might have seen, worthy of being attended to, had there been time to look at them.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Many other things we might have seen, worthy of being attended to, had there been time to look at them.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

the act of using

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

German conductor (1876-1962)

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

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

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

plural of “weapon” — any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

be dressed in

From this reading In this room was John of Gaunt's suit, indicating a man seven feet high, and the armor seems to bear the marks of much wear; but this may be owing to great scrubbing, throughout the centuries since John of Gaunt died.

(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 we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

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

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

during the time that

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

marked by repeated turns and bends

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

United States writer who has written extensively on American culture (born in 1931)

From this reading There, too, we saw the cloak in which Wolfe fell, on the Plains of Abraham,--a coarse, faded, threadbare, light-colored garment, folded up under a glass case.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

From this reading Many other things we might have seen, worthy of being attended to, had there been time to look at them.

inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work

From this reading Following into still another room, we were told that this was Sir Walter Raleigh's apartment, while confined in the Tower, so that it was within these walls that he wrote the History of the World.

shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)

From this reading Then we went up a winding stair to another room, containing armor and weapons, and beautiful brass cannon, that appeared to have been for ornament rather than use, some of them being quite covered with embossed sculpture, marvellously well wrought.