used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
AlfrednounUS /ˈælfrəd/
king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)
From this reading The story concentrates on the youngest of the sons, Alfred, who became known as Alfred the Great during his reign.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The story concentrates on the youngest of the sons, Alfred, who became known as Alfred the Great during his reign.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The four boys have a tutor, Father Swythe, but only Alfred is interested in what the monk has to teach.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The King's Sons, by George Manville Fenn.
concentratesnounUS /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪts/
plural of “concentrate” — the desired mineral that is left after impurities have been removed from mined ore
From this reading The story concentrates on the youngest of the sons, Alfred, who became known as Alfred the Great during his reign.
containverbUS /kənˈteɪn/
include or contain; have as a component
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The story concentrates on the youngest of the sons, Alfred, who became known as Alfred the Great during his reign.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
Ethelwulf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The four boys have a tutor, Father Swythe, but only Alfred is interested in what the monk has to teach.
Fenn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The King's Sons, by George Manville Fenn.
Fenn-style
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading The King's Sons, by George Manville Fenn.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The story concentrates on the youngest of the sons, Alfred, who became known as Alfred the Great during his reign.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The four boys have a tutor, Father Swythe, but only Alfred is interested in what the monk has to teach.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The four boys have a tutor, Father Swythe, but only Alfred is interested in what the monk has to teach.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading The four boys have a tutor, Father Swythe, but only Alfred is interested in what the monk has to teach.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
King'snounUS /kɪŋz/
possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading The King's Sons, by George Manville Fenn.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The story concentrates on the youngest of the sons, Alfred, who became known as Alfred the Great during his reign.
Manville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The King's Sons, by George Manville Fenn.
monknounUS /mʌŋk/
a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work
From this reading The four boys have a tutor, Father Swythe, but only Alfred is interested in what the monk has to teach.
nail-bitingadjective
(of a situation) characterized by or causing suspense
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The story concentrates on the youngest of the sons, Alfred, who became known as Alfred the Great during his reign.
and nothing more
From this reading The four boys have a tutor, Father Swythe, but only Alfred is interested in what the monk has to teach.
reignverbUS /reɪn/
have sovereign power
From this reading The story concentrates on the youngest of the sons, Alfred, who became known as Alfred the Great during his reign.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
situationsnounUS /ˌsɪtʃuːˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “situation” — the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading The King's Sons, by George Manville Fenn.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
Swythe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four boys have a tutor, Father Swythe, but only Alfred is interested in what the monk has to teach.
impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading The four boys have a tutor, Father Swythe, but only Alfred is interested in what the monk has to teach.
express in words
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The King's Sons, by George Manville Fenn.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
tutorverbUS /ˈtuːtər/
be a tutor to someone; give individual instruction
From this reading The four boys have a tutor, Father Swythe, but only Alfred is interested in what the monk has to teach.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
precisely as stated
From this reading This is a very short book, and it does not contain any of the usual nail-biting Fenn-style situations.
WessexnounUS /ˈwesəks/
a Saxon kingdom in southwestern England that became the most powerful English kingdom by the 10th century
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
which person or people
From this reading The story concentrates on the youngest of the sons, Alfred, who became known as Alfred the Great during his reign.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But it is very good at what it does, which is to tell a story about King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his four sons, each of whom in turn became King.
youngestadjectiveUS /ˈjʌŋɡəst/
superlative of “young” — (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The story concentrates on the youngest of the sons, Alfred, who became known as Alfred the Great during his reign.
