used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All had taken refuge in the dûn, all who had escaped the first slaying.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Culdees, on the further loch, heard it, and ran from their cells.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
arrownounUS /ˈæroʊ/
a mark to indicate a direction or relation
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
cellsnounUS /selz/
plural of “cell” — any small compartment
From this reading The Culdees, on the further loch, heard it, and ran from their cells.
Culdees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Culdees, on the further loch, heard it, and ran from their cells.
doomedadjectiveUS /duːmd/
marked for certain death
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
dûn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All had taken refuge in the dûn, all who had escaped the first slaying.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading All had taken refuge in the dûn, all who had escaped the first slaying.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading All had taken refuge in the dûn, all who had escaped the first slaying.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Culdees, on the further loch, heard it, and ran from their cells.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading The Culdees, on the further loch, heard it, and ran from their cells.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All had taken refuge in the dûn, all who had escaped the first slaying.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The Culdees, on the further loch, heard it, and ran from their cells.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All had taken refuge in the dûn, all who had escaped the first slaying.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
lamentverbUS /ləˈment/
express grief verbally
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
the sound of laughing
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
lochnounUS /lɑːk/
a long narrow inlet of the sea in Scotland (especially when it is nearly landlocked)
From this reading The Culdees, on the further loch, heard it, and ran from their cells.
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 A long penetrating wail went up.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Culdees, on the further loch, heard it, and ran from their cells.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
penetratingadjectiveUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading A long penetrating wail went up.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The Culdees, on the further loch, heard it, and ran from their cells.
refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
a safe place
From this reading All had taken refuge in the dûn, all who had escaped the first slaying.
screamingadjectiveUS /ˈskriːmɪŋ/
so extremely intense as to evoke screams
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
sea-rovers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
slayingnounUS /ˈsleɪɪŋ/
unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being
From this reading All had taken refuge in the dûn, all who had escaped the first slaying.
spearnounUS /spɪr/
a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
swift-sure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading All had taken refuge in the dûn, all who had escaped the first slaying.
targe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All had taken refuge in the dûn, all who had escaped the first slaying.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Culdees, on the further loch, heard it, and ran from their cells.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A long penetrating wail went up.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
vikingnounUS /ˈvaɪkɪŋ/
any of the Scandinavian people who raided the coasts of Europe from the 8th to the 11th centuries
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
wailverbUS /weɪl/
emit long loud cries
From this reading A long penetrating wail went up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If any leaped forth, it was upon a viking spear, or if the face of any was seen it was the targe for a swift-sure arrow.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A long penetrating wail went up.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
which person or people
From this reading All had taken refuge in the dûn, all who had escaped the first slaying.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The loud laughter of the sea-rovers was more dreadful to them than the whirling flames and the wild screaming lament of the dying and the doomed.
