used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HUGH GAINS A FRIEND The jongleur softly fingered the strings of his instrument.
ale-horns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ale-horns stood filled on the table before them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
on or to one side
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The ale-horns stood filled on the table before them.
Blancherive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
Chesby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
comfortlessadjective
without comfort
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
counterpartnounUS /ˈkaʊntərpɑːrt/
a person or thing having the same function or characteristics as another
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
crudeadjectiveUS /kruːd/
not carefully or expertly made
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
daisnounUS /deɪz/
a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The evening shadows lengthened on the rush-strewn floor.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The ale-horns stood filled on the table before them.
fingeredadjectiveUS /ˈfɪŋɡərd/
having or resembling a finger or fingers; often used in combination
From this reading HUGH GAINS A FRIEND The jongleur softly fingered the strings of his instrument.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The evening shadows lengthened on the rush-strewn floor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading HUGH GAINS A FRIEND The jongleur softly fingered the strings of his instrument.
GAINSnounUS /ɡeɪnz/
plural of “gain” — a quantity that is added
From this reading HUGH GAINS A FRIEND The jongleur softly fingered the strings of his instrument.
gitternnoun
a 16th century musical instrument resembling a guitar with a pear-shaped soundbox and wire strings
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
gospelnounUS /ˈɡɑːspəl/
the four books in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that tell the story of Christ's life and teachings
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HUGH GAINS A FRIEND The jongleur softly fingered the strings of his instrument.
HUGH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HUGH GAINS A FRIEND The jongleur softly fingered the strings of his instrument.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading HUGH GAINS A FRIEND The jongleur softly fingered the strings of his instrument.
jongleurnoun
a singer of folk songs
From this reading HUGH GAINS A FRIEND The jongleur softly fingered the strings of his instrument.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
lengthenedadjectiveUS /ˈleŋθənd/
drawn out or made longer spatially
From this reading The evening shadows lengthened on the rush-strewn floor.
Messer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
NormannounUS /ˈnɔːrmən/
United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HUGH GAINS A FRIEND The jongleur softly fingered the strings of his instrument.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
rush-strewn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening shadows lengthened on the rush-strewn floor.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The evening shadows lengthened on the rush-strewn floor.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
with low volume
From this reading HUGH GAINS A FRIEND The jongleur softly fingered the strings of his instrument.
solidly-built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The ale-horns stood filled on the table before them.
stringsnounUS /strɪŋz/
the section of an orchestra that plays stringed instruments
From this reading HUGH GAINS A FRIEND The jongleur softly fingered the strings of his instrument.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The ale-horns stood filled on the table before them.
carry out
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HUGH GAINS A FRIEND The jongleur softly fingered the strings of his instrument.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The ale-horns stood filled on the table before them.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He sat with Hugh on the dais of the Great Hall in the keep of Chesby Castle, a counterpart of Blancherive, solidly-built in the Norman way, but crude and comfortless.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I would not have you take my word for gospel, Messer Hugh," he said slowly, as he put aside the gittern.
