used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
(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 Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
inflected form of “behold” — see with attention
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
beleagueredverbUS /bɪˈliːɡərd/
past form of “beleaguer” — annoy persistently
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
boltedverbUS /ˈboʊltəd/
past form of “bolt” — move or jump suddenly
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
chainedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪnd/
bound with chains
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
densnounUS /denz/
plural of “den” — the habitation of wild animals
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
emanating from God
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
Fulmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
having much knowledge or education
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
issuedverbUS /ˈɪʃuːd/
past form of “issue” — prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
without good reason
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
the force of workers available
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
the light of the Moon
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
ocularadjectiveUS /ˈɔːkjuːlər/
of or relating to or resembling the eye
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
porternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
porter'snounUS /ˈpɔːrtərz/
possessive form of “porter” — a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
posternnoun
a small gate in the rear of a fort or castle
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
with low volume
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
past form of “remind” — put in the mind of someone
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
past form of “rouse” — become active
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
witty remark
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
the state of being asleep
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
snoringnounUS /ˈsnɔːrɪŋ/
the act of snoring or producing a snoring sound
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
not in physical motion
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
thornnounUS /θɔːrn/
something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading But, when Fulmer reminded him that the month of May was still far off, and told him he had seen the figure move for some distance, he quietly replied-- "Then it must have been a spirit.
subjected to a physical (or chemical) treatment or action or agent
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
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 Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
wardernounUS /ˈwɔːrdər/
a person who works in a prison and is in charge of prisoners
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Every postern was barred, bolted, and chained; and the porter, and the porter's men were all snoring in their dens, of which he had ocular proof before he retired.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
at the time that
From this reading Had he been chief warder of a beleaguered fort, Lord Fulmer could not have examined every gate and sally port of the castle more carefully than he did, when he descended from the walls.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The figure which he had beheld had evidently seemed to come from the castle; but how it had issued forth he could not divine.
a Caucasian
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The fat old porter, whom he had roused and informed of what he had seen, treated the matter lightly, saying, half sleeping, half waking, it was impossible: it must have been the moonlight on the bank, or a white thorn coming into flower.
