Chapter III

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

(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 The silver spires were shining as though it were they that made all this azure glow in which Elfland swam.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

affect with wonder

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

a light shade of blue

From this reading The silver spires were shining as though it were they that made all this azure glow in which Elfland swam.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

a line that indicates a boundary

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

assets available for use in the production of further assets

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Neither sun nor moon made the light of that enchanted day.

a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

past form of “dwindle” — become smaller or lose substance

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

Filled with or placed under the influence of magical power or charm.

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

an alert and refreshed state

From this reading The silver spires were shining as though it were they that made all this azure glow in which Elfland swam.

past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

destroyed or killed

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

prudent

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

Old World vine with lobed evergreen leaves and black berrylike fruits

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

darkened by clouds

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Neither sun nor moon made the light of that enchanted day.

any art that invokes supernatural powers

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

plural of “meet” — a meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

lasting for a markedly brief time

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading Neither sun nor moon made the light of that enchanted day.

plural of “mystery” — something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

not any; not one

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

above and across; more than

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

a large and stately mansion

From this reading And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

a coniferous tree

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

cut with a saw

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

plural of “sentinel” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

plural of “shine” — the quality of being bright and sending out rays of light

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

marked by exceptional merit

From this reading The silver spires were shining as though it were they that made all this azure glow in which Elfland swam.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading The silver spires were shining as though it were they that made all this azure glow in which Elfland swam.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

plural of “spire” — a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top

From this reading The silver spires were shining as though it were they that made all this azure glow in which Elfland swam.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

past form of “stray” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading Neither sun nor moon made the light of that enchanted day.

inflected form of “swim” — travel through water

From this reading The silver spires were shining as though it were they that made all this azure glow in which Elfland swam.

a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

plural of “sword” — a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The silver spires were shining as though it were they that made all this azure glow in which Elfland swam.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The silver spires were shining as though it were they that made all this azure glow in which Elfland swam.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

except if; if not

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading A line of pine trees up which ivy climbed, as high as their lowering black foliage, stood like sentinels at the edge of the wood.

migratory

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

(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 And Alveric having by now come far into Elfland, and being now before its capital palace, and knowing that Elfland guarded its mysteries well, drew his father's sword before he entered the wood.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The silver spires were shining as though it were they that made all this azure glow in which Elfland swam.

at the time that

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading _The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland_ When Alveric came to the enchanted wood the light in which Elfland glowed had neither grown nor dwindled, and he saw that it came from no radiance that shines on the fields we know, unless the wandering lights of wonderful moments that sometimes astonish our fields, and are gone the instant they come, are strayed over the border of Elfland by some momentary disorder of magic.