used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading What would befall this realm if my marriage were called in question after my decease?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
avouchverb
admit openly and bluntly; make no bones about
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
befallverbUS /bɪˈfɔːl/
become of; happen to
From this reading What would befall this realm if my marriage were called in question after my decease?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading What would befall this realm if my marriage were called in question after my decease?
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading The same trouble and confusion would ensue that followed on the death of my noble grandfather, King Edward the Fourth.
consortverbUS /kənˈsɔːrt/
keep company with; hang out with
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
without stop or interruption
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading The same trouble and confusion would ensue that followed on the death of my noble grandfather, King Edward the Fourth.
deceasenounUS /dɪˈsiːs/
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading What would befall this realm if my marriage were called in question after my decease?
discomposedadjective
having your composure disturbed
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading The same trouble and confusion would ensue that followed on the death of my noble grandfather, King Edward the Fourth.
ensueverbUS /ɪnˈsuː/
issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end
From this reading The same trouble and confusion would ensue that followed on the death of my noble grandfather, King Edward the Fourth.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The same trouble and confusion would ensue that followed on the death of my noble grandfather, King Edward the Fourth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading The same trouble and confusion would ensue that followed on the death of my noble grandfather, King Edward the Fourth.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading The same trouble and confusion would ensue that followed on the death of my noble grandfather, King Edward the Fourth.
gravitynounUS /ˈɡrævəti/
(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
hearersnounUS /ˈhiːrərz/
plural of “hearer” — someone who listens attentively
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading What would befall this realm if my marriage were called in question after my decease?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading What would befall this realm if my marriage were called in question after my decease?
inheritornounUS /ˌɪnˈherətər/
a person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
a domain in which something is dominant
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
without good reason
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
plural of “lord” — terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
engage in
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading What would befall this realm if my marriage were called in question after my decease?
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
meditationnounUS /ˌmedəˈteɪʃən/
continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
mischancenoun
an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
used to form the superlative
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading The same trouble and confusion would ensue that followed on the death of my noble grandfather, King Edward the Fourth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading What would befall this realm if my marriage were called in question after my decease?
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
realmnounUS /relm/
a domain in which something is dominant
From this reading What would befall this realm if my marriage were called in question after my decease?
reluctantlyadverbUS /rɪˈlʌktəntli/
with reluctance
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
determined
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
Identical; not different.
From this reading The same trouble and confusion would ensue that followed on the death of my noble grandfather, King Edward the Fourth.
scruplesnounUS /ˈskruːpəlz/
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
successornounUS /səkˈsesər/
a person who follows next in order
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
carry out
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The same trouble and confusion would ensue that followed on the death of my noble grandfather, King Edward the Fourth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The gravity of the hearers might have been discomposed by this remark, but for the stern looks of the king.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
treatisenounUS /ˈtriːtəs/
a formal exposition
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
a source of difficulty
From this reading The same trouble and confusion would ensue that followed on the death of my noble grandfather, King Edward the Fourth.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading What would befall this realm if my marriage were called in question after my decease?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What would befall this realm if my marriage were called in question after my decease?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading To prevent such mischance I have resolved, most reluctantly, to put away my present queen, and to take another consort, by whom I trust to raise up a worthy successor and inheritor of my kingdom.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading What would befall this realm if my marriage were called in question after my decease?
an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person
From this reading “Ye may make a jest of my scruples, my lords,” he continued, “and think I hold them lightly; but my treatise on the subject, which has cost me much labour and meditation, will avouch to the contrary.
