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The Rival Heirs
The Rival Heirs

Chapter XXI · The Messenger from the Camp of Refuge

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Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
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A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.
It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.
Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.
His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.
The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.
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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 XXI · The Messenger from the Camp of Refuge

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.
Line 2
It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.
Line 3
Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.
Line 4
His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.
Line 5
The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.”

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.”

Need noun US /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.”

Suppose noun US /ˈsuppose/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.”

All words in this reading · 117

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

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

accustomed

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

Aescendune

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

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

age

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

Alfgar

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

all

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

assumed

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

banquet

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

befitting

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

beg

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

begun

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

bronzed

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

business

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

castle

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

chapter

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

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

Chronicles

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

credited

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

Danish

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

described

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

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

distinct

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

dwelt

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

earlier

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

early

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

eating

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

English

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

evening

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

expression

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

face

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

feast

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

features

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

fortnight

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

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

grandfather

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

gravity

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

hall

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

handed

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

hour

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

Hugo

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

lately

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

leader

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

made

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

man

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

manhood

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

many

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

mead

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

meal

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

men

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

more

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

neednounUS /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

Norman

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

often

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

old

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

only

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

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

place

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

possessed

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

pride

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From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

readers

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From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

really

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From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

recapitulation

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From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

rival

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

round

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

sat

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

Scarcely

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

scenes

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

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

sixty

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From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

stranger

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

sun

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

there

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

too

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

vicissitudes

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

warlike

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

wars

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

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading A fortnight only had passed since the scenes described in our last chapter, and we must again take our readers to Aescendune.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading His face was bronzed with the sun, and his features had assumed all the appearance of early manhood, while there was a gravity in his expression befitting a born leader of men, such as his warlike grandfather, Alfgar, had been in the old Danish wars sixty years earlier.

Wilfred

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.

wine

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

From this reading The accustomed features of an English feast, as distinct from a Norman banquet, have been dwelt upon too often in these Chronicles to need recapitulation here, and we shall only beg our readers to suppose the eating over, the wine and mead handed round, and the business of the evening begun.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

years

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

From this reading Scarcely of age, the vicissitudes of his life had made a man of him before his time, and a stranger would have credited him with many more years than he really possessed.

youthful

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

From this reading It was the hour of the evening meal in the castle hall where so lately Hugo sat in his pride, and in his place sat his youthful rival, Wilfred.