used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
Aedh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
in addition
From this reading And Cormac knew also, with a sense of pride, that Columba had another matter at heart--the welfare of the bards.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading And Cormac knew also, with a sense of pride, that Columba had another matter at heart--the welfare of the bards.
arrangeverbUS /ərˈeɪndʒ/
put into a proper or systematic order
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
BARDS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BARDS OF HIBERNIA.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
boroim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
chieftainnounUS /ˈtʃiːftən/
the leader of a group of people
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
ColumbanounUS /ˌkoʊˈlʌmbə/
a constellation in the southern hemisphere near Puppis and Caelum
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
Cormac
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
cow-tribute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
endeavouring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
exactingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzæktɪŋ/
having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
fellow-kings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
fermentnounUS /fərˈment/
a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
set up or found
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading And Cormac knew also, with a sense of pride, that Columba had another matter at heart--the welfare of the bards.
HIBERNIAnounUS /ˌhaɪˈbɜːrniə/
an island comprising the republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland
From this reading BARDS OF HIBERNIA.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
inveighed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
IrelandnounUS /ˈaɪərlənd/
a republic consisting of 26 of 32 counties comprising the island of Ireland; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1921
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
Kevin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
plural of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
Leinster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading And Cormac knew also, with a sense of pride, that Columba had another matter at heart--the welfare of the bards.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
neighbouringverbUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/
-ing form of “neighbour” — live or be located as a neighbor
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BARDS OF HIBERNIA.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
on one occasion
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
peaceablyadverbUS /ˈpiːsəbli/
in a peaceable manner
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading And Cormac knew also, with a sense of pride, that Columba had another matter at heart--the welfare of the bards.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading And Cormac knew also, with a sense of pride, that Columba had another matter at heart--the welfare of the bards.
skirmishnounUS /ˈskɜːrmɪʃ/
a minor short-term fight
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
the state of being asleep
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
tributaryadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪbjəteri/
(of a stream) flowing into a larger stream
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
tributenounUS /ˈtrɪbjuːt/
something given or done as an expression of esteem
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Cormac knew that in Leinster Saint Kevin had inveighed against it, and that the great Saint, Columba, was at present on a visit to Aedh endeavouring to arrange matters peaceably between him and his fellow-kings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
weariedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪrid/
exhausted
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
welfarenounUS /ˈwelfer/
governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need
From this reading And Cormac knew also, with a sense of pride, that Columba had another matter at heart--the welfare of the bards.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
which person or people
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole of Ireland was in a state of ferment over the boroim, or cow-tribute, which King Aedh insisted on exacting from his tributary kings.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Cormac wished to present himself to King Aedh at once; but this he found impossible as the great chieftain lay sleeping in his hall; wearied out with a skirmish of the previous day upon a neighbouring king who had refused to pay him tribute.
