used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The King, however, preferred a little delay.
Alianora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
alterverbUS /ˈɔːltər/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
a feeling of delight at being entertained
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
aridadjectiveUS /ˈærəd/
lacking sufficient water or rainfall
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
next to; at the side of
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
betrothing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
the two together, not just one
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading The King, however, preferred a little delay.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
desirabilitynounUS /dɪˌzaɪrəˈbɪlɪti/
the quality of being worthy of desiring
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
flowsnounUS /floʊz/
plural of “flow” — the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
fulfilmentnoun
a feeling of satisfaction at having achieved your desires
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
gulfsnounUS /ɡʌlfs/
plural of “gulf” — an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The King, however, preferred a little delay.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Reserve and reticence were not in the nature of Roger Mortimer.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading The King, however, preferred a little delay.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The King, however, preferred a little delay.
joined in matrimony
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
MortimernounUS /ˈmɔːrtɪmər/
English nobleman who deposed Edward II and was executed by Edward III (1287-1330)
From this reading Reserve and reticence were not in the nature of Roger Mortimer.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Reserve and reticence were not in the nature of Roger Mortimer.
not any; not one
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Reserve and reticence were not in the nature of Roger Mortimer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Reserve and reticence were not in the nature of Roger Mortimer.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
on one occasion
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading The King, however, preferred a little delay.
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
prophecynounUS /ˈprɒf.ə.si/
A prediction of what will happen in the future, often divinely or magically inspired.
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
ReservenounUS /rɪˈzɜːrv/
formality and propriety of manner
From this reading Reserve and reticence were not in the nature of Roger Mortimer.
reticencenounUS /ˈretɪsəns/
the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary
From this reading Reserve and reticence were not in the nature of Roger Mortimer.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reserve and reticence were not in the nature of Roger Mortimer.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
smittenadjectiveUS /ˈsmɪtən/
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
a male human offspring
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
in the near future
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
steeps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
sunlessadjective
filled or abounding with clouds
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
thornsnounUS /θɔːrnz/
plural of “thorn” — something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
precisely as stated
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Reserve and reticence were not in the nature of Roger Mortimer.
in or at the place that
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But they are apt to lead Him up arid steeps and into sunless gulfs, through thorns which tear their feet as well as His, and into dry places where no water is beside the stream which flows from the smitten Rock.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Princess very soon perceived, with equal amusement and delight, the fulfilment of her prophecy; and urged upon her royal son the desirability of at once betrothing Roger and Alianora.
but in spite of that
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading There was time enough, he said: both were yet very young; matters might alter before they were old enough to be married.
