used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A world of tents--to the right, to the left--before or behind--a world of tents.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Truth to tell, all this was evidence of a tournament, given by the Duke of Messina.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
armornounUS /ˈɑːrmər/
protective covering made of metal and used in combat
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
attiredadjectiveUS /əˈtaɪrd/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A world of tents--to the right, to the left--before or behind--a world of tents.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A world of tents--to the right, to the left--before or behind--a world of tents.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Truth to tell, all this was evidence of a tournament, given by the Duke of Messina.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
clothsnounUS /klɔːθs/
plural of “cloth” — artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
coloredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a flag that shows its nationality
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
competeverbUS /kəmˈpiːt/
compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
From this reading Many knights intended to compete in this tournament.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading Truth to tell, all this was evidence of a tournament, given by the Duke of Messina.
erectionsnounUS /ɪˈrekʃənz/
plural of “erection” — an erect penis
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading Truth to tell, all this was evidence of a tournament, given by the Duke of Messina.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Truth to tell, all this was evidence of a tournament, given by the Duke of Messina.
coins made of gold
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
for this reason
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading Many knights intended to compete in this tournament.
knightsnounUS /naɪts/
plural of “knight” — originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
From this reading Many knights intended to compete in this tournament.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading A world of tents--to the right, to the left--before or behind--a world of tents.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
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 knights intended to compete in this tournament.
MessinanounUS /mɪˈsiːnə/
a port city in northeastern Sicily on the Strait of Messina
From this reading Truth to tell, all this was evidence of a tournament, given by the Duke of Messina.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A world of tents--to the right, to the left--before or behind--a world of tents.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A world of tents--to the right, to the left--before or behind--a world of tents.
PalermonounUS /pəˈlermoʊ/
the capital of Sicily; located in northwestern Sicily; an important port for 3000 years
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
precisely, exactly
From this reading A world of tents--to the right, to the left--before or behind--a world of tents.
sea-shore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading And not dismal little canvas tents--but brave erections in cloths of gold and silver, and gay colors.
sumptuouslyadverb
in a sumptuous and opulent manner
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
express in words
From this reading Truth to tell, all this was evidence of a tournament, given by the Duke of Messina.
tentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading A world of tents--to the right, to the left--before or behind--a world of tents.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A world of tents--to the right, to the left--before or behind--a world of tents.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Truth to tell, all this was evidence of a tournament, given by the Duke of Messina.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A world of tents--to the right, to the left--before or behind--a world of tents.
tournamentnounUS /ˈtʊrnəmənt/
a sporting competition in which contestants play a series of games to decide the winner
From this reading Truth to tell, all this was evidence of a tournament, given by the Duke of Messina.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading Truth to tell, all this was evidence of a tournament, given by the Duke of Messina.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Truth to tell, all this was evidence of a tournament, given by the Duke of Messina.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Hence, that sea-shore near Palermo was gay as a garden with colored tents, bright gold, shining armor, and brave knights, sumptuously attired.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading A world of tents--to the right, to the left--before or behind--a world of tents.
