used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
anew
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
(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 Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
anonadverbUS /ˌæˈnɔːn/
at another time
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But I could not do this so secret as I would.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
attendantsnounUS /əˈtendənts/
plural of “attendant” — someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
banquetsnounUS /ˈbæŋkwəts/
plural of “banquet” — a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
battlementsnounUS /ˈbætəlmənts/
plural of “battlement” — a rampart built around the top of a castle with regular gaps for firing arrows or guns
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I could not do this so secret as I would.
butterynounUS /ˈbʌtəri/
a small storeroom for storing foods or wines
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
chewedverbUS /tʃuːd/
past form of “chew” — chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But I could not do this so secret as I would.
cudnoun
food of a ruminant regurgitated to be chewed again
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
characterized by great determination
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
dismissingverbUS /dɪˈsmɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “dismiss” — bar from attention or consideration
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But I could not do this so secret as I would.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
the act of departing
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
guard-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
jackdaws
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
jollyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːli/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
largessnounUS /ˈlɑːrdʒəs/
a gift or money given (as for service or out of benevolence); usually given ostentatiously
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
go away from a place
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
for more time
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
information about recent and important events
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
not any; not one
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But I could not do this so secret as I would.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
on one occasion
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
yielding a fair profit
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
Phra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
rejectionnounUS /rɪˈdʒekʃən/
the act of rejecting something
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
rumornounUS /ˈruːmər/
gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
salutationnoun
an act of honor or courteous recognition
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading But I could not do this so secret as I would.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
seriousnessnounUS /ˈsɪriəsnəs/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But I could not do this so secret as I would.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But I could not do this so secret as I would.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
tiltyards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
trysts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
unkeptadjective
(especially of promises or contracts) having been violated or disregarded
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
unsungadjectiveUS /ənˈsʌŋ/
not famous or acclaimed
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
vaultedadjectiveUS /ˈvɔːltɪd/
having a hemispherical vault or dome
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
precisely as stated
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading I determined to leave those walls at once, to leave all my songs unsung, my trysts unkept, to leave all my jolly comrades, the tiltyards and banquets.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
wideningnounUS /ˈwaɪdənɪŋ/
an increase in width
From this reading And thus a whisper, first down in the vaulted guard-room, and then a rumor, and anon a widening murmur the news was spread, until surely the very jackdaws on the battlements were saying to themselves, “Phra is going!
in the company of; together with
From this reading The very paying off of my score down in the buttery, the dismissing of my attendants, each with largess, the seriousness I could not but give to my morning salutation of some of those I should never see again, betrayed me.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading Grim and angry, all that night I chewed the bitter cud of my rejection, and before the new day was an hour old determined life was no longer worth the living in that place.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But I could not do this so secret as I would.
