AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I must be away to my mistress, winter or no winter, else my song will die and my heart break.”
ay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
breakverbUS /breɪk/
terminate
From this reading I must be away to my mistress, winter or no winter, else my song will die and my heart break.”
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
CourtnounUS /kɔːrt/
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
dieverbUS /daɪ/
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading I must be away to my mistress, winter or no winter, else my song will die and my heart break.”
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must be away to my mistress, winter or no winter, else my song will die and my heart break.”
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
fainadjectiveUS /feɪn/
having made preparations
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
forthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
growsverbUS /ɡroʊz/
third-person singular of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading I must be away to my mistress, winter or no winter, else my song will die and my heart break.”
Hilarius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
illadjectiveUS /ɪl/
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
ladnounUS /læd/
a boy or man
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
limnernoun
a painter or drawer of portraits
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
longingnounUS /ˈlɔːŋɪŋ/
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
LORDnounUS /lɔːrd/
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
lovenounUS /lʌv/
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
MartinnounUS /ˈmɑːrtən/
French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
metverbUS /met/
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
MinstrelnounUS /ˈmɪnstrəl/
a singer of folk songs
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
mistressnounUS /ˈmɪstrəs/
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading I must be away to my mistress, winter or no winter, else my song will die and my heart break.”
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I must be away to my mistress, winter or no winter, else my song will die and my heart break.”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I must be away to my mistress, winter or no winter, else my song will die and my heart break.”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
OCTOBERnounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I must be away to my mistress, winter or no winter, else my song will die and my heart break.”
sadlyadverbUS /ˈsædli/
in an unfortunate way
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
SENDINGnounUS /ˈsendɪŋ/
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
serveverbUS /sɜːrv/
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
sinkverbUS /sɪŋk/
fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
songnounUS /sɔːŋ/
a short musical composition with words
From this reading I must be away to my mistress, winter or no winter, else my song will die and my heart break.”
spedverbUS /sped/
inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
sunnounUS /sʌn/
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
SurreynounUS /ˈsɜːri/
a county in southeastern England on the Thames
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
TisnounUS /tɪz/
plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
tradenounUS /treɪd/
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
uplandsnounUS /ˈʌpləndz/
plural of “upland” — elevated (e.g., mountainous) land
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
waningnounUS /ˈweɪnɪŋ/
a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
watchingnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
watersidenoun
land bordering a body of water
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
waxedadjectiveUS /wækst/
treated with wax
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One day by the waterside he met Martin, of whom he saw now much, now little, for the Minstrel followed the Court.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I must be away to my mistress, winter or no winter, else my song will die and my heart break.”
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading I must be away to my mistress, winter or no winter, else my song will die and my heart break.”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading “The cage grows too small for me, lad,” he said, as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; “ay, and I love one woman, which is ill for a man of my trade.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “’Tis even so with me, good Martin,” said Hilarius sadly; “I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred, and I may not open it from within.”
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading A SENDING FROM THE LORD OCTOBER and November came and sped, and Hilarius’ longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year.
