Chapter XIX · Wherein King Alfred Burns the Cakes

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

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

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

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)

From this reading “So, good Dame Gillian, grant me leave Within your house to stay; For, by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away.”

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

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading “So, good Dame Gillian, grant me leave Within your house to stay; For, by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away.”

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

lacking or showing a lack of due concern

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

very pleasing to the eye

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “So, good Dame Gillian, grant me leave Within your house to stay; For, by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away.”

either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

like a clown

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

accepted or habitual practice

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

informal terms for a (young) woman

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

sing in descant

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

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

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

a boy or man

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

devoid of good sense or judgment

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

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

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

let have

From this reading “So, good Dame Gillian, grant me leave Within your house to stay; For, by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away.”

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

the hulled and crushed grain of various cereals

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

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

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

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

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

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

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

having services engaged for a fee

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading “So, good Dame Gillian, grant me leave Within your house to stay; For, by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away.”

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

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

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

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

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

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

the jaw in vertebrates that is hinged to open the mouth

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

go away from a place

From this reading “So, good Dame Gillian, grant me leave Within your house to stay; For, by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away.”

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

a condition requiring relief

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

not any; not one

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

a small contrasting part of something

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

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

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

precisely, exactly

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

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

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

possessive form of “shepherd” — a clergyman who watches over a group of people

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

an instance of visual perception

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

ludicrous, foolish

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

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

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

make a mess of, destroy or ruin

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

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

From this reading “So, good Dame Gillian, grant me leave Within your house to stay; For, by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away.”

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading “So, good Dame Gillian, grant me leave Within your house to stay; For, by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away.”

successive (without a break)

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

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

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

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

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

a special situation

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

plural of “throat” — the passage to the stomach and lungs; in the front part of the neck below the chin and above the collarbone

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

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

From this reading Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clownish jest; How silly sots, as custom is, Do descant at the best.

an old word for “to”

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

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

From this reading But not to spoil the foolish sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd’s humour right In ev’ry kind of thing.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “So, good Dame Gillian, grant me leave Within your house to stay; For, by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away.”

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

belonging to which person

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “So, good Dame Gillian, grant me leave Within your house to stay; For, by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away.”

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading “Not so, old Dame,” quoth Alfred straight, “Of me you need not fear; My master hired me for ten groats, To serve you one whole year:

but in spite of that

From this reading “So, good Dame Gillian, grant me leave Within your house to stay; For, by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away.”

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A sheep-hook then, with Patch his dog, And tar-box by his side; He, with his master, cheek by jowl, Unto old Gillian hied, Into whose sight no sooner come, “Whom have you here?” quoth she, “A fellow, I doubt, will cut our throats, So like a knave looks he.”

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “So, good Dame Gillian, grant me leave Within your house to stay; For, by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away.”