257
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
(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 It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An there be but one bold fenner that will go before over the ice by Soham mere and show the way, I will be the next to follow!”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading An there be but one bold fenner that will go before over the ice by Soham mere and show the way, I will be the next to follow!”
bogsnounUS /bɑːɡz/
plural of “bog” — wet spongy ground of decomposing vegetation; has poorer drainage than a swamp; soil is unfit for cultivation but can be cut and dried and used for fuel
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
fearless and daring
From this reading An there be but one bold fenner that will go before over the ice by Soham mere and show the way, I will be the next to follow!”
terminate
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading An there be but one bold fenner that will go before over the ice by Soham mere and show the way, I will be the next to follow!”
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
Canutenoun
king of Denmark and Norway who forced Edmund II to divide England with him; on the death of Edmund II, Canute became king of all England (994-1035)
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
Canute's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
Ely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading THE HAPPY END.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
fen-waters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
fenner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An there be but one bold fenner that will go before over the ice by Soham mere and show the way, I will be the next to follow!”
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading An there be but one bold fenner that will go before over the ice by Soham mere and show the way, I will be the next to follow!”
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading An there be but one bold fenner that will go before over the ice by Soham mere and show the way, I will be the next to follow!”
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading THE HAPPY END.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
being nothing more than specified
From this reading An there be but one bold fenner that will go before over the ice by Soham mere and show the way, I will be the next to follow!”
monksnounUS /mʌŋks/
plural of “monk” — a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
immediately following in time or order
From this reading An there be but one bold fenner that will go before over the ice by Soham mere and show the way, I will be the next to follow!”
noblesnounUS /ˈnoʊbəlz/
plural of “noble” — a titled peer of the realm
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
go across or through
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
piousadjectiveUS /ˈpaɪəs/
having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
PurificationnounUS /ˌpjʊrəfəˈkeɪʃən/
the act of cleaning by getting rid of impurities
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
riversnounUS /ˈrɪvərz/
plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading An there be but one bold fenner that will go before over the ice by Soham mere and show the way, I will be the next to follow!”
slipperyadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpəri/
causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
Soham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An there be but one bold fenner that will go before over the ice by Soham mere and show the way, I will be the next to follow!”
dependable
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
streamsnounUS /striːmz/
plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
swampsnounUS /swɑːmps/
plural of “swamp” — low land that is seasonally flooded; has more woody plants than a marsh and better drainage than a bog
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HAPPY END.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
in or at that place or location
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
unsafeadjectiveUS /ənˈseɪf/
lacking in security or safety
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
precisely as stated
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading An there be but one bold fenner that will go before over the ice by Soham mere and show the way, I will be the next to follow!”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was such a winter as one of those in which King Canute went to visit the monks of Ely.[257] Then the nobles of Canute’s court said, “We cannot pass; the king must not pass on the slippery, unsafe ice, which may break and cause us all to be drowned in the fen-waters.”
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading There chanced to be one very hard winter, and the rivers and streams were frozen over, as well as the bogs and swamps.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But Canute, like the pious and stout king that he was, up and said, “Hold ice or break ice, I will keep the feast of the Purification with the good monks of Ely!
