Chapter XI · Chapter 11

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

having companions or an escort

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

highly skilled

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

later than; following

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As he did so Beorn and Wulf crossed the bridge to meet him.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As he did so Beorn and Wulf crossed the bridge to meet him.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

a large and stately mansion

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

placed crosswise

From this reading As he did so Beorn and Wulf crossed the bridge to meet him.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

the act of departing

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading As he did so Beorn and Wulf crossed the bridge to meet him.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading "You have done well indeed, thanes!"

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading EDITH.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

a fortified military post where troops are stationed

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "You have done well indeed, thanes!"

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading As he did so Beorn and Wulf crossed the bridge to meet him.

plural of “horseman” — a man skilled in equitation

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading "You have done well indeed, thanes!"

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

come together

From this reading As he did so Beorn and Wulf crossed the bridge to meet him.

plural of “messenger” — a person who carries a message

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

on one occasion

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

planks collectively; a quantity of planks

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

a raised horizontal surface

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

a member of a Germanic people who conquered England and merged with the Angles and Jutes to become Anglo-Saxons; dominant in England until the Norman Conquest

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading As he did so Beorn and Wulf crossed the bridge to meet him.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

soldiers collectively

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made out.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

(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 "You have done well indeed, thanes!"

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl, accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops, reached the platform at the other end.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As he did so Beorn and Wulf crossed the bridge to meet him.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You have done well indeed, thanes!"