used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Laurence had been a month at Machecoul and had not yet worn out his welcome.
AbbeynounUS /ˈæbi/
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
aislesnounUS /aɪlz/
plural of “aisle” — a long narrow passage (as in a cave or woods)
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
ALTARnounUS /ˈɔːltər/
the table in Christian churches where communion is given
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
approvalnounUS /əˈpruːvəl/
the formal act of approving
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
archesnounUS /ˈɑːrtʃəz/
plural of “arch” — a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Laurence had been a month at Machecoul and had not yet worn out his welcome.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Laurence had been a month at Machecoul and had not yet worn out his welcome.
blondenounUS /blɑːnd/
a person with fair skin and hair
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
ChamberlainnounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbərlən/
British statesman who as Prime Minister pursued a policy of appeasement toward fascist Germany (1869-1940)
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
chapelnounUS /ˈtʃæpəl/
a place of worship that has its own altar
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
choristers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
clerksnounUS /klɜːrks/
plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
cloistersnounUS /ˈklɔɪstərz/
plural of “cloister” — residence that is a place of religious seclusion (such as a monastery)
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
Cor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
curlsnounUS /kɜːrlz/
plural of “curl” — a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals)
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
Dulce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
Gilles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Laurence had been a month at Machecoul and had not yet worn out his welcome.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
Henriet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Laurence had been a month at Machecoul and had not yet worn out his welcome.
a sacred place of pilgrimage
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
InnocentsnounUS /ˈɪnəsənts/
plural of “innocent” — a person who lacks knowledge of evil
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
a boy or man
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
in the recent past
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
Laurence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
Laval
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
Machecoul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laurence had been a month at Machecoul and had not yet worn out his welcome.
MarshalverbUS /ˈmɑːrʃəl/
place in proper rank
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
marshal'snounUS /ˈmɑːrʃəlz/
possessive form of “marshal” — a law officer having duties similar to those of a sheriff in carrying out the judgments of a court of law
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
Messire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
a particular point in time
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Laurence had been a month at Machecoul and had not yet worn out his welcome.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Laurence had been a month at Machecoul and had not yet worn out his welcome.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Laurence had been a month at Machecoul and had not yet worn out his welcome.
a light shade of red
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
in the near future
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
privynounUS /ˈprɪvi/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
Retz
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
ScottishnounUS /ˈskɑːtɪʃ/
the dialect of English used in Scotland
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
without speaking
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
sunningverbUS /ˈsʌnɪŋ/
inflected form of “sun” — expose one's body to the sun
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Henriet regarded them silently for a moment, looking with special approval upon the blonde curls and pink cheeks of the young Scottish lad.
the topmost one of two
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
accept gladly
From this reading Laurence had been a month at Machecoul and had not yet worn out his welcome.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE ALTAR OF IRON And now what of Master Laurence, lately clerk in the Abbey of Dulce Cor, presently in service with the great Lord of Retz, Messire Gilles de Laval, Marshal and Chamberlain of the King of France?
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading Laurence had been a month at Machecoul and had not yet worn out his welcome.
but in spite of that
From this reading Laurence had been a month at Machecoul and had not yet worn out his welcome.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading He was sunning himself with certain young clerks and choristers of the marshal's privy chapel of the Holy Innocents.
youthsnounUS /juːðz/
plural of “youth” — a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Suddenly Clerk Henriet appeared under the arches at the upper end of the pretty cloisters, in the aisles of which the youths were seated.
