used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
(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 He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
balladsnounUS /ˈbælədz/
plural of “ballad” — a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
From this reading It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
have
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
BordersnounUS /ˈbɔːrdərz/
plural of “border” — a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
coloursnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a distinguishing emblem
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
a body serving in an administrative capacity
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it
From this reading It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
without deviation
From this reading He returned her gaze directly, for he was proud of himself and of his fame.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
From this reading He returned her gaze directly, for he was proud of himself and of his fame.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
Floddennoun
a hill in Northumberland where the invading Scots were defeated by the English in 1513
From this reading It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
a long fixed look
From this reading He returned her gaze directly, for he was proud of himself and of his fame.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
goodlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡʊdli/
large in amount or extent or degree
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He returned her gaze directly, for he was proud of himself and of his fame.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He returned her gaze directly, for he was proud of himself and of his fame.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
Katharine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
conformity or harmony
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
engage in
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
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 It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
mockerynounUS /ˈmɑːkəri/
showing your contempt by derision
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
used to form the superlative
From this reading It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He returned her gaze directly, for he was proud of himself and of his fame.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading He returned her gaze directly, for he was proud of himself and of his fame.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He returned her gaze directly, for he was proud of himself and of his fame.
ScotsnounUS /skɑːts/
the dialect of English used in Scotland
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
swordsmannoun
someone skilled at fencing
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
tricksyadjective
marked by skill in deception
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
troopnounUS /truːp/
a group of soldiers
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
warsnounUS /wɔːrz/
plural of “war” — the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He returned her gaze directly, for he was proud of himself and of his fame.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was before Flodden Field that he had done his most famous deed, about which there were many ballads.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
in the company of; together with
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Katharine turned clean about to him and looked at him with attention, to make out whether he might be such a man as would carry her letter for her.
a late time of life
From this reading He had fought in all the wars that a man might fight in since he had been eighteen, and for fifteen years he had been captain of a troop employed by the Council in keeping back the Scots of the Borders.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'Why,' he answered, with a gentle mockery, 'you have one tricksy swordsman to bear your goodly colours.'
