used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
abbotnounUS /ˈæbət/
the superior of an abbey of monks
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
abbot's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
Abbots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
bearernounUS /ˈberər/
someone whose employment involves carrying something
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
Bec
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
befellverbUS /bɪˈfel/
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
Coutances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/
in accordance with convention or custom
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
dictateverbUS /dɪkˈteɪt/
issue commands or orders for
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
epistlenounUS /ɪˈpɪsəl/
a specially long, formal letter
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
divisible by two
From this reading A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
third-person singular of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
death of a person
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
GuernseynounUS /ˈɡɜːrnzi/
a Channel Island to the northwest of Jersey
From this reading A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
killsnounUS /kɪlz/
plural of “kill” — the act of terminating a life
From this reading A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
Lanfranc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
the literary culture
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
lieges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
plural of “lord” — terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
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 A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
the force of workers available
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
(Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
a particular point in time
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
information about recent and important events
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
Nigel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
piratenounUS /ˈpaɪrət/
someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
salutationnoun
an act of honor or courteous recognition
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
Sarrasin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
be seated
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
to a small degree or extent
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
carry out
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
an old word for “yours”
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
an old word for “your”, speaking to one person
From this reading "Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning; "this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
precisely as stated
From this reading A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me on my way.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After customary salutation, the letter ran-- "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule.
writing-horn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together.
