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The Rival Heirs
The Rival Heirs

Chapter V · The Norman Pages

Cover illustration for The Rival Heirs
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.
Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.
These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.
They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.
First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Rival Heirs

Chapter V · The Norman Pages

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.
Line 2
Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.
Line 3
These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.
Line 4
They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.
Line 5
First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.”

Dexterity noun US /dɛkˈstɛrəti/

skill in using the hands or body in a specific situation in this story

From this reading “First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.”

Required noun US /required/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.”

Step noun US /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.”

All words in this reading · 101

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

acquire

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

age

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

baron

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

becoming

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

birth

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

bow

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

From this reading First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

Boys

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

castle

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

childhood

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

chivalry

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

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

couches

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

customs

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

dainty

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

days

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

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

deemed

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

degree

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

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

demeanour

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

dexteritynounUS /dɛkˈstɛrəti/

skill in using the hands or body in a specific situation in this story

From this reading First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

discipline

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

earlier

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

ease

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

From this reading First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

elders

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

far

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

fared

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

food

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

forced

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

gallant

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

generally

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

habits

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

hand

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

harder

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

home

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

horses

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

From this reading First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

how

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

From this reading First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

implicit

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

knighthood

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

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

lads

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

lance

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

From this reading First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

learn

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

learned

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

From this reading First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

less

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

manage

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

From this reading First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

many

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

menial

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

modern

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

modesty

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

noble

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

now

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

obedience

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

offices

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

page

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

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

pay

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

peace

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

perform

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

requirednounUS /required/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

rose

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

schools

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

slept

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

some

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

stepnounUS /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

strictly

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

superiors

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

sword

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

From this reading First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading These lads fared harder by far than modern boys do at our great schools; they slept on harder couches, rose earlier, and had less dainty food.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

transferred

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

twelfth

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

use

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

From this reading First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

war

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading First they learned how to manage their horses with ease and dexterity; next how to use the sword, the bow, and the lance.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading They were forced to pay implicit obedience to their superiors; modesty in demeanour, as becoming their age, was strictly required before their elders; and they had to perform many offices which would now be deemed menial.

year

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

From this reading Boys of noble birth, about their twelfth year, were generally transferred from the home of their childhood to the castle of some gallant baron to learn the customs of war and peace at his hand, and to acquire habits of good order and discipline.