used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Come close, and I’ll tell you a secret.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
bordernounUS /ˈbɔːrdər/
a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Come close, and I’ll tell you a secret.”
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Come close, and I’ll tell you a secret.”
daresnounUS /derz/
plural of “dare” — a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
in a serious manner
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading When the story was finished, Janet’s merry laugh echoed through the halls.
ElfinadjectiveUS /ˈelfɪn/
suggestive of an elf in strangeness and otherworldliness
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
Elfland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
enchantedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtʃæn.tɪd/
Filled with or placed under the influence of magical power or charm.
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading When the story was finished, Janet’s merry laugh echoed through the halls.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
hallsnounUS /hɔːlz/
plural of “hall” — an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading When the story was finished, Janet’s merry laugh echoed through the halls.
hauntsnounUS /hɔːnts/
plural of “haunt” — a frequently visited place
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
hollowsnounUS /ˈhɑːloʊz/
plural of “hollow” — a cavity or space in something
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Come close, and I’ll tell you a secret.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
Janet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
Janet's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the story was finished, Janet’s merry laugh echoed through the halls.
jewelnounUS /ˈdʒuːəl/
a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
lassienounUS /ˈlæsi/
a girl or young woman who is unmarried
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
the sound of laughing
From this reading When the story was finished, Janet’s merry laugh echoed through the halls.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
LinnounUS /lɪn/
United States sculptor and architect whose public works include the memorial to veterans of the Vietnam War in Washington (born in 1959)
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading When the story was finished, Janet’s merry laugh echoed through the halls.
moorlandnounUS /ˈmʊrlænd/
open land usually with peaty soil covered with heather and bracken and moss
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
not any; not one
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
ransomnounUS /ˈrænsəm/
money demanded for the return of a captured person
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
revelverbUS /ˈrevəl/
take delight in
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Come close, and I’ll tell you a secret.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading When the story was finished, Janet’s merry laugh echoed through the halls.
TamnounUS /tæm/
a woolen cap of Scottish origin
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
express in words
From this reading Come close, and I’ll tell you a secret.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the story was finished, Janet’s merry laugh echoed through the halls.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading When the story was finished, Janet’s merry laugh echoed through the halls.
plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the story was finished, Janet’s merry laugh echoed through the halls.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The old nurse nodded her head earnestly and said, “’Tis well known, my lassie, that the people of Elfland revel in the hills and hollows of Scotland.
at the time that
From this reading When the story was finished, Janet’s merry laugh echoed through the halls.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading No maiden dares venture near the enchanted place, for if she should fall under the spell of this Elfin Knight she would be obliged to give him a precious jewel for a ransom.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Come close, and I’ll tell you a secret.”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Janet leaned forward, and the old woman whispered, “An Elfin Knight, named Tam Lin, haunts the moorland on the border of your father’s estate.
