used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
activelyadverbUS /ˈæktɪvli/
in an active manner
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
(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 There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
alliancenounUS /əˈlaɪəns/
the state of being allied or confederated
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
ancestraladjectiveUS /ænˈsestrəl/
inherited or inheritable by established rules (usually legal rules) of descent
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
bannersnounUS /ˈbænərz/
plural of “banner” — long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
BowlsnounUS /boʊlz/
a bowling game played on a level lawn with biased wooden balls that are rolled at a jack
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
ByronnounUS /ˈbaɪrən/
English romantic poet notorious for his rebellious and unconventional lifestyle (1788-1824)
From this reading Byron.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
checkering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
DamenounUS /deɪm/
informal terms for a (young) woman
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
diffusedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfjuːzd/
(of light rays) subjected to scattering by reflection from a rough surface or transmission through a translucent material
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
exultationnoun
a feeling of extreme joy
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
opinion or judgment
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
faggot's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
fulfilmentnoun
a feeling of satisfaction at having achieved your desires
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
assemble or get together
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
gladnessnoun
experiencing joy and pleasure
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
hospitableadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːˈspɪtəbəl/
favorable to life and growth
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
labours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
lighternounUS /ˈlaɪtər/
a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
Miniver's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
mirthnounUS /mɜːrθ/
great merriment
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
information about recent and important events
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
o'eradverb
throughout a period of time
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
patronagenounUS /ˈpætrənɪdʒ/
the act of providing approval and support
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
Pendarrel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
picturedadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərd/
seen in the mind as a mental image
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
predictionnounUS /priˈdɪkʃən/
the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
Randolph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
rejoicedverbUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪst/
past form of “rejoice” — feel happiness or joy
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
renovatingverbUS /ˈrenəveɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “renovate” — restore to a previous or better condition
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
respectingverbUS /riˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “respect” — regard highly; think much of
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
restorationnounUS /ˌrestərˈeɪʃən/
the reign of Charles II in England; 1660-1685
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
retainersnounUS /rɪˈteɪnərz/
plural of “retainer” — a fee charged in advance to retain the services of someone
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
splendournoun
a quality that outshines the usual
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
stewardnounUS /ˈstuːərd/
someone who manages property or other affairs for someone else
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
superintendencenoun
management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
tenantrynoun
tenants of an estate considered as a group
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
tonguesnounUS /tʌŋz/
plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
towersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading The news of the restoration of Randolph to his ancestral towers had already diffused joy through the homes of his tenantry; and the fulfilment of Dame Miniver's prediction respecting his marriage completed the exultation.
Trevethlan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
tribenounUS /traɪb/
a social division of (usually preliterate) people
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
unwontedadjective
unaccustomed or unusual
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
upholsterers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
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 There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was not a heart in the village that was not made lighter by the account of the alliance between Pendarrel and Trevethlan.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The castle was busy with the labours of upholsterers and all their tribe, actively employed under the superintendence of the steward and his wife, in renovating some of its ancient splendour; and the Trevethlan Arms rejoiced in their patronage at the close of the day.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays The unwonted faggot's hospitable blaze; And gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all gladness, and with eyes all mirth.
