used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
Aliscans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Begone, I tell you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short Nose returns from the Aliscans it will be the worse for you."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
move towards
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
weapons considered collectively
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Begone, I tell you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short Nose returns from the Aliscans it will be the worse for you."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Let down the drawbridge," called he, "and be quick, for time presses."
Begone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
exhale hard
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Let down the drawbridge," called he, "and be quick, for time presses."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Begone, I tell you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short Nose returns from the Aliscans it will be the worse for you."
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "Let down the drawbridge," called he, "and be quick, for time presses."
drawbridgenounUS /ˈdrɔːbrɪdʒ/
a bridge that can be raised to block passage or to allow boats or ships to pass beneath it
From this reading "Let down the drawbridge," called he, "and be quick, for time presses."
an opposing military force
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Let down the drawbridge," called he, "and be quick, for time presses."
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Begone, I tell you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short Nose returns from the Aliscans it will be the worse for you."
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
helmetnounUS /ˈhelmət/
armor plate that protects the head
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Begone, I tell you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short Nose returns from the Aliscans it will be the worse for you."
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading Begone, I tell you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short Nose returns from the Aliscans it will be the worse for you."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Begone, I tell you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short Nose returns from the Aliscans it will be the worse for you."
have ownership or possession of
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
pennonnoun
a long flag; often tapering
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
porternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
pressesnounUS /ˈpresəz/
plural of “press” — the state of demanding notice or attention
From this reading "Let down the drawbridge," called he, "and be quick, for time presses."
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading "Let down the drawbridge," called he, "and be quick, for time presses."
freed from illness or injury
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
returnsnounUS /rɪˈtɜːrnz/
plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
From this reading Begone, I tell you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short Nose returns from the Aliscans it will be the worse for you."
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
Saracennoun
(historically) a member of the nomadic people of the Syrian and Arabian deserts at the time of the Roman Empire
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
shieldnounUS /ʃiːld/
a protective covering or structure
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Begone, I tell you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short Nose returns from the Aliscans it will be the worse for you."
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
not in physical motion
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
successive (without a break)
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
express in words
From this reading Begone, I tell you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short Nose returns from the Aliscans it will be the worse for you."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Let down the drawbridge," called he, "and be quick, for time presses."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
unhorseverb
alight from (a horse)
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
at the time that
From this reading When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
in or at the place that
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
in the company of; together with
From this reading But he forgot that he had changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still where he was.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading Begone, I tell you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short Nose returns from the Aliscans it will be the worse for you."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
