used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
(of mail) marked with a destination
From this reading Suddenly he looked up and addressed his mother, who was sitting in an armchair watching him.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
AlfrednounUS /ˈælfrəd/
king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Suddenly he looked up and addressed his mother, who was sitting in an armchair watching him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Mother, what are runes?"
armchairnounUS /ˈɑːrmtʃer/
chair with a support on each side for arms
From this reading Suddenly he looked up and addressed his mother, who was sitting in an armchair watching him.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
companionshipnounUS /kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/
the state of being with someone
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
doingsnounUS /ˈduːɪŋz/
manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/
plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
start firing a weapon
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
footstoolnoun
a low seat or a stool to rest the feet of a seated person
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
set up or found
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
hearth-rug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Suddenly he looked up and addressed his mother, who was sitting in an armchair watching him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
Idris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Suddenly he looked up and addressed his mother, who was sitting in an armchair watching him.
moorlandnounUS /ˈmʊrlænd/
open land usually with peaty soil covered with heather and bracken and moss
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
runesnounUS /ruːnz/
plural of “rune” — any character from an ancient Germanic alphabet used in Scandinavia from the 3rd century to the Middle Ages
From this reading "Mother, what are runes?"
RUNICadjective
relating to or consisting of runes
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
Identical; not different.
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
SaxonnounUS /ˈsæksən/
a member of a Germanic people who conquered England and merged with the Angles and Jutes to become Anglo-Saxons; dominant in England until the Norman Conquest
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Suddenly he looked up and addressed his mother, who was sitting in an armchair watching him.
in the near future
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly he looked up and addressed his mother, who was sitting in an armchair watching him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RUNIC RING That same evening Idris lay reading on the hearth-rug before a bright fire.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading Since their return from the moorland he had found his mother unusually quiet, and he had therefore turned for companionship to his favourite book, "_The Life of King Alfred_."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Suddenly he looked up and addressed his mother, who was sitting in an armchair watching him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Having reared the volume against a footstool he rested his elbows upon the floor, and his chin upon his hands, and in this attitude was soon absorbed in the doings of the Saxon hero.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Suddenly he looked up and addressed his mother, who was sitting in an armchair watching him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Mother, what are runes?"
which person or people
From this reading Suddenly he looked up and addressed his mother, who was sitting in an armchair watching him.
