used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
how long something has existed
From this reading Therefore the king chose an owl, venerable with age and wisdom, for his messenger.
(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 He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Therefore the king chose an owl, venerable with age and wisdom, for his messenger.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Therefore the king chose an owl, venerable with age and wisdom, for his messenger.
colonynounUS /ˈkɑːləni/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
despatched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
dwarfsnounUS /dwɔːrfs/
plural of “dwarf” — a person who is markedly small
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Therefore the king chose an owl, venerable with age and wisdom, for his messenger.
giantsnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənts/
plural of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Therefore the king chose an owl, venerable with age and wisdom, for his messenger.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Therefore the king chose an owl, venerable with age and wisdom, for his messenger.
Kobolds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
a person who carries a message
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
night-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was to travel in the night-time, and rest in the day.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
owlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading Therefore the king chose an owl, venerable with age and wisdom, for his messenger.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
by chance
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading He was to travel in the night-time, and rest in the day.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Therefore the king chose an owl, venerable with age and wisdom, for his messenger.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He was to travel in the night-time, and rest in the day.
trustynounUS /ˈtrʌsti/
a convict who is considered trustworthy and granted special privileges
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
venerableadjectiveUS /ˈvenərəbəl/
impressive by reason of age
From this reading Therefore the king chose an owl, venerable with age and wisdom, for his messenger.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was to travel in the night-time, and rest in the day.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
which person or people
From this reading He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived in a large ruined castle.
accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
From this reading Therefore the king chose an owl, venerable with age and wisdom, for his messenger.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Therefore the king chose an owl, venerable with age and wisdom, for his messenger.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
