used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
matters of personal concern
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
anglesnounUS /ˈæŋɡəlz/
plural of “angle” — the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
basecourt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
battlementsnounUS /ˈbætəlmənts/
plural of “battlement” — a rampart built around the top of a castle with regular gaps for firing arrows or guns
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
besiegingnounUS /bɪˈsiːdʒɪŋ/
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
cause to be bored
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
buttressesnounUS /ˈbʌtrəsəz/
plural of “buttress” — a support usually of stone or brick; supports the wall of a building
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
cannonnounUS /ˈkænən/
a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
a period of 100 years
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
CHAS-CHATEIL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
consistingverbUS /kənˈsɪstɪŋ/
-ing form of “consist” — originate
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
eaglenounUS /ˈiːɡəl/
any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
edificenounUS /ˈedəfəs/
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
favourites
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
feudaladjectiveUS /ˈfjuːdəl/
of or relating to or characteristic of feudalism
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
flourishedverbUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃt/
past form of “flourish” — grow vigorously
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
fortifiedadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrtəfaɪd/
secured with bastions or fortifications
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
fortressesnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəsɪz/
plural of “fortress” — a fortified defensive structure
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
garrisonedverbUS /ˈɡærəsənd/
past form of “garrison” — station (troops) in a fort or garrison
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
a sacred place of pilgrimage
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
hornworks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
insecuritynounUS /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊrɪti/
the state of being subject to danger or injury
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
inventionnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃən/
the creation of something in the mind
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
Kennet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
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 But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
characterized by grandeur
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
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 It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
the force of workers available
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
Moreville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
Morevilles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
NormannounUS /ˈnɔːrmən/
United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
OriginallyadverbUS /ərˈɪdʒənəli/
in an original manner
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
perceptionnounUS /pərˈsepʃən/
the representation of what is perceived; basic component in the formation of a concept
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
politicadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlətɪk/
marked by artful prudence, expedience, and shrewdness
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
prouderadjectiveUS /ˈpraʊdər/
comparative of “proud” — feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
provisioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
razedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/
torn down and broken up
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
reignverbUS /reɪn/
have sovereign power
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
shieldnounUS /ʃiːld/
a protective covering or structure
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
stockedadjectiveUS /stɑːkt/
furnished with more than enough
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
confined on all sides
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
thoroughadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːroʊ/
painstakingly careful and accurate
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
towersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
twelfthadjectiveUS /twelfθ/
coming next after the eleventh and just before the thirteenth in position
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading In fact, few men in England had a more thorough perception of the utter insecurity of national affairs at that time than Hugh de Moreville.
valenounUS /veɪl/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
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 Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Originally it was an ordinary Norman castle, consisting of a basecourt, the sides of the walls being fortified with angles, towers, buttresses, battlements, and hornworks.
(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 CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
at the time that
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But it was now a far prouder and more magnificent edifice--a place which, if well garrisoned and provisioned, might, before the invention of cannon, have held out long against a besieging army.
which person or people
From this reading It had been built in the reign of Stephen by Henry de Moreville, a great baron who flourished in the twelfth century and bore an eagle on his shield, after his return from the Holy Land; and as the Morevilles were favourites with the second Henry, it escaped destruction during the time when the politic king razed so many feudal fortresses to the ground.
in the company of; together with
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
woodedadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdɪd/
covered with growing trees and bushes etc
From this reading CHAS-CHATEIL On the summit of a hill looking over the vale of the Kennet stood the castle of Chas-Chateil, surrounded by a park well wooded, and stocked with deer and beasts of game.
