adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
AbbeynounUS /ˈæbi/
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading Once, indeed, Blossholme Priory, which was older than the Abbey, had been rich and famous.
ABBOT'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
accompaniedadjectiveUS /əˈkʌmpənid/
having companions or an escort
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/
in addition
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
beadsnounUS /biːdz/
several beads threaded together on a string
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Once, indeed, Blossholme Priory, which was older than the Abbey, had been rich and famous.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
Blossholme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
buildingnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋ/
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
chapelnounUS /ˈtʃæpəl/
a place of worship that has its own altar
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
childlessadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldləs/
without offspring
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
CrusadenounUS /kruːˈseɪd/
a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
decaynounUS /dɪˈkeɪ/
the process of gradually becoming inferior
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
EdwardnounUS /ˈedwərd/
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
endowedadjectiveUS /enˈdaʊd/
provided or supplied or equipped with (especially as by inheritance or nature)
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
famousadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪməs/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading Once, indeed, Blossholme Priory, which was older than the Abbey, had been rich and famous.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
foundressnoun
a woman founder
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
grey-gabled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once, indeed, Blossholme Priory, which was older than the Abbey, had been rich and famous.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
highadjectiveUS /haɪ/
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
hillnounUS /hɪl/
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
husbandnounUS /ˈhʌzbənd/
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Once, indeed, Blossholme Priory, which was older than the Abbey, had been rich and famous.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
killedverbUS /kɪld/
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
ladiesnounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
landsnounUS /lændz/
plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
likewiseadverbUS /ˈlaɪkwaɪz/
in like or similar manner
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
Matilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
NunnerynounUS /ˈnʌnəri/
the convent of a community of nuns
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
nunsnounUS /nʌnz/
plural of “nun” — a woman religious
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
OFFERverbUS /ˈɔːfər/
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading Once, indeed, Blossholme Priory, which was older than the Abbey, had been rich and famous.
OnceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Once, indeed, Blossholme Priory, which was older than the Abbey, had been rich and famous.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
OtheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
Plantagenets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
PriorynounUS /ˈpraɪəri/
religious residence in a monastery governed by a prior or a convent governed by a prioress
From this reading Once, indeed, Blossholme Priory, which was older than the Abbey, had been rich and famous.
prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːspərəs/
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
a safe place
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
retiredadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrd/
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
richadjectiveUS /rɪtʃ/
possessing material wealth
From this reading Once, indeed, Blossholme Priory, which was older than the Abbey, had been rich and famous.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
shelternounUS /ˈʃeltər/
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
soughtadjectiveUS /sɔːt/
that is looked for
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
surroundedadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪd/
confined on all sides
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Once, indeed, Blossholme Priory, which was older than the Abbey, had been rich and famous.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
twentynounUS /ˈtwenti/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
wallnounUS /wɔːl/
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE ABBOT’S OFFER The Nunnery at Blossholme was a peaceful place, a long, grey-gabled house set under the shelter of a hill and surrounded by a high wall.
wealthnounUS /welθ/
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading Other noble ladies who accompanied her there, or sought its refuge in after days, had done likewise, so that it grew in power and in wealth, till at its most prosperous time over twenty nuns told their beads within its walls.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Once, indeed, Blossholme Priory, which was older than the Abbey, had been rich and famous.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
WithinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within this wall lay also the great garden--neglected enough--and the chapel, a building that still was beautiful in its decay.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Its foundress in the time of the first Edward, a certain Lady Matilda, one of the Plantagenets, who retired from the world after her husband had been killed in the Crusade, being childless, endowed it with all her lands.
