used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
astoundingadjectiveUS /əˈstaʊndɪŋ/
bewildering or striking dumb with wonder
From this reading The truth is so astounding that it will make you open your eyes quite wide enough.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
CharlemagnenounUS /ˈʃɑːrləmeɪn/
king of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor; conqueror of the Lombards and Saxons (742-814)
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
compareverbUS /kəmˈper/
examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
deedsnounUS /diːdz/
performance of moral or religious acts
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
demonsnounUS /ˈdiːmənz/
plural of “demon” — an evil supernatural being
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
doingsnounUS /ˈduːɪŋz/
manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
the male ruler of an empire
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The truth is so astounding that it will make you open your eyes quite wide enough.
epochnounUS /ˈepək/
a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
From this reading There is no necessity, in speaking of that remarkable epoch, to invent facts.
at any time
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The truth is so astounding that it will make you open your eyes quite wide enough.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading There is no necessity, in speaking of that remarkable epoch, to invent facts.
fairiesnounUS /ˈferiz/
plural of “fairy” — a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
widely known and esteemed
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
come to pass
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
inventverbUS /ˌɪnˈvent/
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading There is no necessity, in speaking of that remarkable epoch, to invent facts.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is no necessity, in speaking of that remarkable epoch, to invent facts.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
engage in
From this reading The truth is so astounding that it will make you open your eyes quite wide enough.
marvellousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrvələs/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading There is no necessity, in speaking of that remarkable epoch, to invent facts.
not any; not one
From this reading There is no necessity, in speaking of that remarkable epoch, to invent facts.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
ogres
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The truth is so astounding that it will make you open your eyes quite wide enough.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
potentadjectiveUS /ˈpoʊtənt/
having great influence
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
continue talking
From this reading But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The truth is so astounding that it will make you open your eyes quite wide enough.
relateverbUS /rɪˈleɪt/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
unusual or striking
From this reading There is no necessity, in speaking of that remarkable epoch, to invent facts.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
sketchnounUS /sketʃ/
preliminary drawing for later elaboration
From this reading But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The truth is so astounding that it will make you open your eyes quite wide enough.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading There is no necessity, in speaking of that remarkable epoch, to invent facts.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There is no necessity, in speaking of that remarkable epoch, to invent facts.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is no necessity, in speaking of that remarkable epoch, to invent facts.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading The truth is so astounding that it will make you open your eyes quite wide enough.
(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 But before I proceed further it will be as well to sketch for you, in a few lines, the portrait of this hero.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE story which I am about to relate happened (if it ever did happen) in the time of the famous Emperor Charlemagne.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The truth is so astounding that it will make you open your eyes quite wide enough.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The truth is so astounding that it will make you open your eyes quite wide enough.
in the company of; together with
From this reading What marvellous doings of fairies, ogres, or demons, can compare with the deeds of Charlemagne? and what magic ring could be as potent as his sword?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The truth is so astounding that it will make you open your eyes quite wide enough.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The truth is so astounding that it will make you open your eyes quite wide enough.
