Chapter VIII · Three Courses and a Dessert

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

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

plural of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

although

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

a general name for beer made with a top fermenting yeast; in some of the United States an ale is (by law) a brew of more than 4% alcohol by volume

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

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

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

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

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

possessive form of “artist” — a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

a stick used instead of a sword for fencing

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

a grain of barley

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

a general name for alcoholic beverages made by fermenting a cereal (or mixture of cereals) flavored with hops

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

plural of “bout” — (sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

for the most part

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

a dark purplish-red color

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

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

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

drive away by hitting with one's ball

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing wholly or in part

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

a person considered as descended from some ancestor

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

a dish served as the last course of a meal

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

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

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

the act of consuming liquids

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

divisible by two

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

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

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

producing or covered with lathery sweat or saliva from exhaustion or disease

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

destroyed or killed

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

annoy continually or chronically

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

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

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

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

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

past form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

inflected form of “hop” — jump lightly

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

Living forever; never dying or decaying. (Bất tử, trường tồn vĩnh cửu.)

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

a field of cultivated and mowed grass

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

for more time

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first Gospel

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

the quantity that can be held in a mug

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

not any; not one

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

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

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

plural of “player” — a person who participates in or is skilled at some game

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

the act of playing a musical instrument

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

by chance

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

someone who rides the near horse of a pair in order to guide the horses pulling a carriage (especially a carriage without a coachman)

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

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

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

-ing form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

an educational institution

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

a stick used instead of a sword for fencing

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

inflected form of “sip” — drink in sips

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

term of address for a man

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

a county in southwestern England on the Bristol Channel

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

to a meager degree or in a meager manner

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

young nobleman attendant on a knight

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

with strength or in a strong manner

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

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

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

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

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

male cat

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

not known

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.

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

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading Even Mr. Clarke’s “Dessert,” albeit various, is remembered chiefly by the artist’s immortal plate of the deaf postilion.

precisely as stated

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading His descendant is sipping a light claret sparingly, and possibly playing croquet or lawn tennis on very warm afternoons.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

which person or people

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Sir Matthew Ale, the west country squire, with a face strongly resembling a frothing mug of beer, who gave up his time to his apotheosis of John Barleycorn, has gone to his fathers, and the record of his singlestick and drinking bouts with him.

plural of “wrestler” — combatant who tries to throw opponent to the ground

From this reading The Ralph and Harry Hickorys of our day are but poor wrestlers, and are absolutely ignorant of backsword.

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

From this reading The singlestick players of Somerset are no longer doughty yeomen of the old school; and “Hopping John made Tom Nottle’s fashion,” * it is to be hoped, has become an unknown tipple.