used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
(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 All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
Bertha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
brightenedverbUS /ˈbraɪtənd/
past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
put or send forth
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
a large and stately mansion
From this reading The grey-headed warrior now sits joyless in his castle!
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
coloursnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a distinguishing emblem
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
CourteousadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrtiəs/
exhibiting courtesy and politeness
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
fortressnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/
a fortified defensive structure
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
grey-headedadjective
showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
From this reading The grey-headed warrior now sits joyless in his castle!
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
hastauxiliary verbUS /hæst/
an old form of “have”, used with “thou”
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading How the old Knight of Trautwangen heard news of Sir Otto.
Heerdegen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
hermitnounUS /ˈhɜːrmət/
one retired from society for religious reasons
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The grey-headed warrior now sits joyless in his castle!
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How the old Knight of Trautwangen heard news of Sir Otto.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The grey-headed warrior now sits joyless in his castle!
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
joylessadjective
not experiencing or inspiring joy
From this reading The grey-headed warrior now sits joyless in his castle!
originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
From this reading How the old Knight of Trautwangen heard news of Sir Otto.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
minstrelnounUS /ˈmɪnstrəl/
a singer of folk songs
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
mortificationnounUS /ˈmɔːrtəfkeɪʃən/
strong feelings of embarrassment
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
information about recent and important events
From this reading How the old Knight of Trautwangen heard news of Sir Otto.
not any; not one
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The grey-headed warrior now sits joyless in his castle!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading How the old Knight of Trautwangen heard news of Sir Otto.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading How the old Knight of Trautwangen heard news of Sir Otto.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
on one occasion
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
and nothing more
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
Otto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How the old Knight of Trautwangen heard news of Sir Otto.
penancenounUS /ˈpenəns/
remorse for your past conduct
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
term of address for a man
From this reading How the old Knight of Trautwangen heard news of Sir Otto.
sitsverbUS /sɪts/
third-person singular of “sit” — be seated
From this reading The grey-headed warrior now sits joyless in his castle!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
a male human offspring
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading How the old Knight of Trautwangen heard news of Sir Otto.
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
tidingsnounUS /ˈtaɪdɪŋz/
information about recent and important events
From this reading All the gay colours that once brightened his life have faded away, so that he is more like one of the dead than a living man; for of his only son he has heard no tidings, or of Bertha, nor of Heerdegen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
Trautwangen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How the old Knight of Trautwangen heard news of Sir Otto.
visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
von
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Courteous reader, hast thou never longed to cast one look on the lonely and neglected old knight, Sir Hugh von Trautwangen?
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
warriornounUS /ˈwɔːriər/
someone engaged in or experienced in warfare
From this reading The grey-headed warrior now sits joyless in his castle!
Wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Were it not that the old minstrel, Walter, sometimes visits him, the once active warrior would become a mere hermit, and his ancient fortress a silent cell for penance and mortification.
