Chapter VII · Chapter 7

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

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

any specific behavior

From this reading Early were hammers ringing on anvils in the Dragon Court, and all was activity.

an expert who gives advice

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

(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 Early were hammers ringing on anvils in the Dragon Court, and all was activity.

in addition

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

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

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

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

From this reading Early were hammers ringing on anvils in the Dragon Court, and all was activity.

a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

a bishop of highest rank

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

the thing arranged or agreed to

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills)

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

at or toward the back of something

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

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

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

English writer of satirical novels (1917-1993)

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

plural of “command” — an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

characteristic of the present

From this reading _Contemporary Poem on Wolsey_.

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

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading Early were hammers ringing on anvils in the Dragon Court, and all was activity.

having a strong distaste from surfeit

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

a creature of Teutonic mythology; usually represented as breathing fire and having a reptilian body and sometimes wings

From this reading Early were hammers ringing on anvils in the Dragon Court, and all was activity.

a British peer of the highest rank

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading Early were hammers ringing on anvils in the Dragon Court, and all was activity.

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

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

past form of “entrust” — confer a trust upon

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

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

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

-ing form of “furbish” — polish and make shiny

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

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

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

the act of giving

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

plural of “groom” — a man participant in his own marriage ceremony

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

plural of “hammer” — the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled

From this reading Early were hammers ringing on anvils in the Dragon Court, and all was activity.

an old form of “has”

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

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

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

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

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

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

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

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

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

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

From this reading Early were hammers ringing on anvils in the Dragon Court, and all was activity.

past form of “invest” — make an investment

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

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

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

a case for containing a set of articles

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

plural of “knave” — a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

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

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

plural of “lord” — terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

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 YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _Contemporary Poem on Wolsey_.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading _Contemporary Poem on Wolsey_.

plural of “porter” — a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

skillful after much practice

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

first in rank or degree

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

any address at which you dwell more than temporarily

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

the sound of a bell ringing

From this reading Early were hammers ringing on anvils in the Dragon Court, and all was activity.

a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

the context and environment in which something is set

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

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

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

a worker engaged in making steel

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

dependable

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

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

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

carry out

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

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

From this reading Early were hammers ringing on anvils in the Dragon Court, and all was activity.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

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

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

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

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

feelings of excessive pride

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

precisely as stated

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

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

From this reading Early were hammers ringing on anvils in the Dragon Court, and all was activity.

a flaw or weak point

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Early were hammers ringing on anvils in the Dragon Court, and all was activity.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

a wide street in London stretching from Trafalgar Square to the Houses of Parliament; site of many government offices

From this reading Tibble Steelman was superintending the arrangement of half a dozen corslets, which were to be carried by three stout porters, under his guidance, to what is now Whitehall, then the residence of the Archbishop of York, the king’s prime adviser, Thomas Wolsey.

in the company of; together with

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

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

From this reading _Contemporary Poem on Wolsey_.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

a late time of life

From this reading Master Headley was giving his orders to Kit Smallbones before setting forth to take the Duke of Buckingham’s commands; Giles Headley, very much disgusted, was being invested with a leathern apron, and entrusted to Edmund Burgess to learn those primary arts of furbishing which, but for his mother’s vanity and his father’s weakness, he would have practised four years sooner.

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

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading YORK HOUSE “Then hath he servants five or six score, Some behind and some before; A marvellous great company Of which are lords and gentlemen, With many grooms and yeomen And also knaves among them.”