Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

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

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

how long something has existed

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

European herb somewhat resembling celery widely naturalized in Britain coastal regions and often cultivated as a potherb

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

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

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

separated or at a distance in place or position or time

From this reading Sitting apart were the King's justiciary and the sheriff of Dumbarton.

(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms

From this reading At the far end of the hall at either side of the portal stood two Highlanders, armed with drawn swords.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the far end of the hall at either side of the portal stood two Highlanders, armed with drawn swords.

a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

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

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

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

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading The king, now at the age of three-and-twenty, was dressed in a long robe of brown velvet, trimmed with fur.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

a large and stately mansion

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

a natural or artificial enclosed space

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

rid of obstructions

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

the coloring of a person's face

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading At the far end of the hall at either side of the portal stood two Highlanders, armed with drawn swords.

put on clothes

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading The king, now at the age of three-and-twenty, was dressed in a long robe of brown velvet, trimmed with fur.

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

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

one or the other of two

From this reading At the far end of the hall at either side of the portal stood two Highlanders, armed with drawn swords.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading At the far end of the hall at either side of the portal stood two Highlanders, armed with drawn swords.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

opinion or judgment

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading At the far end of the hall at either side of the portal stood two Highlanders, armed with drawn swords.

start firing a weapon

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading The king, now at the age of three-and-twenty, was dressed in a long robe of brown velvet, trimmed with fur.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

an established custom

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading At the far end of the hall at either side of the portal stood two Highlanders, armed with drawn swords.

plural of “highlander” — a soldier in a Scottish regiment from the Highlands

From this reading At the far end of the hall at either side of the portal stood two Highlanders, armed with drawn swords.

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

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

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

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

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

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

formerly a high judicial officer

From this reading Sitting apart were the King's justiciary and the sheriff of Dumbarton.

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading Sitting apart were the King's justiciary and the sheriff of Dumbarton.

a boy or man

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading The king, now at the age of three-and-twenty, was dressed in a long robe of brown velvet, trimmed with fur.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The king, now at the age of three-and-twenty, was dressed in a long robe of brown velvet, trimmed with fur.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

by chance

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

a grand and imposing entrance (often extended metaphorically)

From this reading At the far end of the hall at either side of the portal stood two Highlanders, armed with drawn swords.

declared publicly; made widely known

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

any loose flowing garment

From this reading The king, now at the age of three-and-twenty, was dressed in a long robe of brown velvet, trimmed with fur.

inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

Identical; not different.

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

the principal law-enforcement officer in a county

From this reading Sitting apart were the King's justiciary and the sheriff of Dumbarton.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading Sitting apart were the King's justiciary and the sheriff of Dumbarton.

being one more than fifteen

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

plural of “sword” — a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard

From this reading At the far end of the hall at either side of the portal stood two Highlanders, armed with drawn swords.

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

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading Before a bright fire in the great audience chamber of Dumbarton Castle sat King Alexander the Third.

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

From this reading The king, now at the age of three-and-twenty, was dressed in a long robe of brown velvet, trimmed with fur.

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

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

made neat and tidy by trimming

From this reading The king, now at the age of three-and-twenty, was dressed in a long robe of brown velvet, trimmed with fur.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back

From this reading The king, now at the age of three-and-twenty, was dressed in a long robe of brown velvet, trimmed with fur.

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

From this reading The king, now at the age of three-and-twenty, was dressed in a long robe of brown velvet, trimmed with fur.

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

From this reading Sitting apart were the King's justiciary and the sheriff of Dumbarton.

belonging to which person

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.

in the company of; together with

From this reading At the far end of the hall at either side of the portal stood two Highlanders, armed with drawn swords.

suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh

From this reading By his side stood two youthful pages, one a lad of sixteen or so, whose delicate complexion and habit of dress proclaimed him to be English; the other a lad of perhaps the same age, whose clear blue eyes, flaxen hair, and ruddy cheeks betokened northern blood.