Reverently, with great respect.Gaelic, the Irish language.Lore, learning.Injunction, an order or charge, an advice that should be followed.Extract, to take out.Devotedly, with great and anxious care.Balm, a sort of ointment that soothes pain and cures.Sentiments, thoughts, feelings.Comparatively late, late compared with older times.Predecessor, one who held an office or place before another.
Reverently, with great respect.
Gaelic, the Irish language.
Lore, learning.
Injunction, an order or charge, an advice that should be followed.
Extract, to take out.
Devotedly, with great and anxious care.
Balm, a sort of ointment that soothes pain and cures.
Sentiments, thoughts, feelings.
Comparatively late, late compared with older times.
Predecessor, one who held an office or place before another.
XXI.—Page 92.
Tradition, accounts handed down from generation to generation.Provincial, belonging to one of the five provinces of Ireland.Tests, trials.Entertaining, amusing, diverting.Festive, joyous, gay, with feasts.Sedge, a kind of coarse grass.Keating: the Rev. Doctor Geoffry Keating, who wrote, in Irish, a well known History of Ireland, full of old stories: died 1644.Oppression, cruelty, tyranny, hardship.Suppress, to put down.Exact, to make people pay.An Irish poet: Thomas Darcy M'Gee.Seers: among the Milesians were a good many druids, seers, or prophets.Strath, the level land along a river at both sides; aninch.Mystic forts, the forts mentioned at page16: mystic, mysterious.Cairn-crowned hills, Many hills have cairns on top round which the people often held council meetings.Elk, very large deer. Elk resorts, places frequented by elks.Modern, belonging to the present time.Unconquerably, such that he could not be conquered.Untarnished, unstained, pure, with out a spot.
Tradition, accounts handed down from generation to generation.
Provincial, belonging to one of the five provinces of Ireland.
Tests, trials.
Entertaining, amusing, diverting.
Festive, joyous, gay, with feasts.
Sedge, a kind of coarse grass.
Keating: the Rev. Doctor Geoffry Keating, who wrote, in Irish, a well known History of Ireland, full of old stories: died 1644.
Oppression, cruelty, tyranny, hardship.
Suppress, to put down.
Exact, to make people pay.
An Irish poet: Thomas Darcy M'Gee.
Seers: among the Milesians were a good many druids, seers, or prophets.
Strath, the level land along a river at both sides; aninch.
Mystic forts, the forts mentioned at page16: mystic, mysterious.
Cairn-crowned hills, Many hills have cairns on top round which the people often held council meetings.
Elk, very large deer. Elk resorts, places frequented by elks.
Modern, belonging to the present time.
Unconquerably, such that he could not be conquered.
Untarnished, unstained, pure, with out a spot.
XXII.—Page 98.
Plaintive, sad, pitiful.Hesitation, pause, delay.Palsy, a sort of sickness that causes shivering or shaking.Litter, a sort of bed in which a person is carried.Tumult, great noise and confusion.
Plaintive, sad, pitiful.
Hesitation, pause, delay.
Palsy, a sort of sickness that causes shivering or shaking.
Litter, a sort of bed in which a person is carried.
Tumult, great noise and confusion.
XXIII.—Page 103.
Revered, regarded with love, honour, and respect.Distinguished, eminent, honoured.Community, a number of persons living together.Permanent, lasting.Veneration, love and great respect.Applicant, a person who applies.Abbess, the head nun of a convent.
Revered, regarded with love, honour, and respect.
Distinguished, eminent, honoured.
Community, a number of persons living together.
Permanent, lasting.
Veneration, love and great respect.
Applicant, a person who applies.
Abbess, the head nun of a convent.
XXIV.—Page 107.
Humility, humbleness, lowliness of mind.Domestic occupations, the work of the house.Sward, a grassy place.Reputation, fame, a great name.Corresponded with her, wrote letters to her, and received replies.Chariot, a kind of carriage.Reproachfully, blaming her severely.Universe, the whole world.
Humility, humbleness, lowliness of mind.
Domestic occupations, the work of the house.
Sward, a grassy place.
Reputation, fame, a great name.
Corresponded with her, wrote letters to her, and received replies.
Chariot, a kind of carriage.
Reproachfully, blaming her severely.
Universe, the whole world.
XXV.—Page 111.
Grave, sober, thoughtful.Unassuming, modest, not forward.Talents, great cleverness.Discipline, strict rules and regulations.Illustrious, eminent, noble, famous.Detailed, exact, giving all particulars.Consolation, comfort, a lightening of trouble.Magnificent, grand, splendid.Shrine, an ornamental tomb or box: sometimes applied to a small church.Commemorate, to keep in memory.Gerald Barry, better known as "Giraldus Cambrensis,"i.e.Gerald the Welshman (Cambria, one of the old names of Wales).Fane, a temple, a church.Long ages of darkness and storm:i.e.of wars and troubles.
Grave, sober, thoughtful.
Unassuming, modest, not forward.
Talents, great cleverness.
Discipline, strict rules and regulations.
Illustrious, eminent, noble, famous.
Detailed, exact, giving all particulars.
Consolation, comfort, a lightening of trouble.
Magnificent, grand, splendid.
Shrine, an ornamental tomb or box: sometimes applied to a small church.
Commemorate, to keep in memory.
Gerald Barry, better known as "Giraldus Cambrensis,"i.e.Gerald the Welshman (Cambria, one of the old names of Wales).
Fane, a temple, a church.
Long ages of darkness and storm:i.e.of wars and troubles.
XXVI.—Page 114.
Scribe, a writer: a person who made it the chief business of his life to copy books.Expert, skilful, ready.Accomplished, very skilful.Devoted, given up to earnestly, attached.Interlaced, woven in and out.Magnifying glass, a glass that makes things seen through it seem large.Composition, a piece of writing, a book.Library, a collection of books.Dun, brown.St. Kieran, or more properly Ciaran, lived in the sixth century.Clonmacnoise on the Shannon, below Athlone, containing the ruins of what was once a great monastery and college, founded by St. Kieran.
Scribe, a writer: a person who made it the chief business of his life to copy books.
Expert, skilful, ready.
Accomplished, very skilful.
Devoted, given up to earnestly, attached.
Interlaced, woven in and out.
Magnifying glass, a glass that makes things seen through it seem large.
Composition, a piece of writing, a book.
Library, a collection of books.
Dun, brown.
St. Kieran, or more properly Ciaran, lived in the sixth century.
Clonmacnoise on the Shannon, below Athlone, containing the ruins of what was once a great monastery and college, founded by St. Kieran.
XXVII.—Page 120.
Watch and ward: ward means guard: he stood sentinel.Scared, frightened.Humorous, full of humour or fun.
Watch and ward: ward means guard: he stood sentinel.
Scared, frightened.
Humorous, full of humour or fun.
XXVIII.—Page 123.
Stud, a number of horses all kept in one place.Vicious, wicked, spiteful.Conan Mail, or Conan the bald: the Fena were always making fun of him, for he was big, fat, gluttonous, a great boast, a great coward, and had an evil tongue.Unconcernedly, not caring a bit.Perplexity, difficulty and doubt.Horrible, hateful.
Stud, a number of horses all kept in one place.
Vicious, wicked, spiteful.
Conan Mail, or Conan the bald: the Fena were always making fun of him, for he was big, fat, gluttonous, a great boast, a great coward, and had an evil tongue.
Unconcernedly, not caring a bit.
Perplexity, difficulty and doubt.
Horrible, hateful.
XXIX.—Page 129.
Took counsel, they advised with one another to know what was best to be done.Explore, to search.Dizzy, enough to make one's head giddy.Pillar-stone, a tall stone standing up, such as we often see in Ireland.Host, a large body of soldiers.Decoration, an ornament.Chase, to ornament with thin coatings of metal on the surface.Enamelled, ornamented as if with enamel.
Took counsel, they advised with one another to know what was best to be done.
Explore, to search.
Dizzy, enough to make one's head giddy.
Pillar-stone, a tall stone standing up, such as we often see in Ireland.
Host, a large body of soldiers.
Decoration, an ornament.
Chase, to ornament with thin coatings of metal on the surface.
Enamelled, ornamented as if with enamel.
XXX.—Page 132.
Wizard champion, a champion having something of the nature of a wizard or enchanter.Circlet, a long thin plate often worn around the head and forehead.Determination, a firm resolution to conquer.Chafe, to vex.Trophy, a prize taken from an enemy in battle.Poise, to balance.Scowl, to frown darkly and wickedly.Terrify, to frighten.
Wizard champion, a champion having something of the nature of a wizard or enchanter.
Circlet, a long thin plate often worn around the head and forehead.
Determination, a firm resolution to conquer.
Chafe, to vex.
Trophy, a prize taken from an enemy in battle.
Poise, to balance.
Scowl, to frown darkly and wickedly.
Terrify, to frighten.
XXXI.—Page 139.
Advantages, benefits, gains.Diligent, industrious, hard-working.Uninhabited, having no people living in it.Presence, appearance.Luminous, bright, sparkling.Enlightenment, knowledge, learning, instruction.Civilise, to refine, to educate, to bring people to live in a decent and proper way.Doctrine, teaching, belief, faith.Structure, a building.Venerable, old and greatly loved and respected.Incessant, without ceasing, continual.Occupation, employment, work.His relative the king of that part of Scotland: the royal families of Ireland and Scotland were related to each other (see pp.5and6), and Columkille was related to both.
Advantages, benefits, gains.
Diligent, industrious, hard-working.
Uninhabited, having no people living in it.
Presence, appearance.
Luminous, bright, sparkling.
Enlightenment, knowledge, learning, instruction.
Civilise, to refine, to educate, to bring people to live in a decent and proper way.
Doctrine, teaching, belief, faith.
Structure, a building.
Venerable, old and greatly loved and respected.
Incessant, without ceasing, continual.
Occupation, employment, work.
His relative the king of that part of Scotland: the royal families of Ireland and Scotland were related to each other (see pp.5and6), and Columkille was related to both.
XXXII.—Page 145.
Voluntary, by his own choice.Ben Edar, Howth, near Dublin.Embarking, going on board ship.Seniors, elderly persons.Hospice, the part of a monastery set apart for the entertainment of travellers.Intently, with close attention.
Voluntary, by his own choice.
Ben Edar, Howth, near Dublin.
Embarking, going on board ship.
Seniors, elderly persons.
Hospice, the part of a monastery set apart for the entertainment of travellers.
Intently, with close attention.
XXXIII.—Page 150.
Heptarchy, means seven kingdoms: for at this time England was divided into seven parts with a king over each.Relations, connexion, friendship.Diligence, industry, working steadily.Intimacy, close friendship.Foster-son. When a man reared up and educated among his family a boy belonging to another family, he was the foster-father, and the boy was his foster-son.Bondage, slavery.Restoration, restoring, giving back.Marauders, robbers, plunderers.Intercession, pleading for.Unfettered of any, not under any other province.Redundance, more than enough, great plenty.Historians recording truth: to record truth is the chief merit of a historian.Bulwark, a safeguard: "Ireland's bulwark," because Tara was in Meath.Sooth, truth.
Heptarchy, means seven kingdoms: for at this time England was divided into seven parts with a king over each.
Relations, connexion, friendship.
Diligence, industry, working steadily.
Intimacy, close friendship.
Foster-son. When a man reared up and educated among his family a boy belonging to another family, he was the foster-father, and the boy was his foster-son.
Bondage, slavery.
Restoration, restoring, giving back.
Marauders, robbers, plunderers.
Intercession, pleading for.
Unfettered of any, not under any other province.
Redundance, more than enough, great plenty.
Historians recording truth: to record truth is the chief merit of a historian.
Bulwark, a safeguard: "Ireland's bulwark," because Tara was in Meath.
Sooth, truth.
XXXIV.—Page 155.
Directions, orders, instructions.Revellers, persons feasting, drinking, and making merry.Sack, to plunder and destroy.
Directions, orders, instructions.
Revellers, persons feasting, drinking, and making merry.
Sack, to plunder and destroy.
XXXV.—Page 158.
Extraordinary, very strange, wonderful.Keel, the bottom part of a ship or boat.Astounding, astonishing, wonderful.Oarstroke of the curragh, about 20 feet.Circumference, the whole round.Extending, stretching.Meshes, the open spaces between the threads of a net.
Extraordinary, very strange, wonderful.
Keel, the bottom part of a ship or boat.
Astounding, astonishing, wonderful.
Oarstroke of the curragh, about 20 feet.
Circumference, the whole round.
Extending, stretching.
Meshes, the open spaces between the threads of a net.
XXXVI.—Page 162.
Reconcile, to become friends again, to come back to friendship.Recognise, to know a thing again.Prow, the head or fore part of a ship or boat.Affliction, trouble and sorrow.Reception, receiving or entertaining.Reveal, to show, to make known.
Reconcile, to become friends again, to come back to friendship.
Recognise, to know a thing again.
Prow, the head or fore part of a ship or boat.
Affliction, trouble and sorrow.
Reception, receiving or entertaining.
Reveal, to show, to make known.
XXXVII.—Page 164.
Liefer, rather.Let be this purpose, let it lie by, don't attend to it, don't carry it out:i.e.the purpose of revenge.I let him be, I let him alone.A tithe, a tenth part.
Liefer, rather.
Let be this purpose, let it lie by, don't attend to it, don't carry it out:i.e.the purpose of revenge.
I let him be, I let him alone.
A tithe, a tenth part.
XXXVIII.—Page 167.
Monastic school, a school kept in a monastery.Distinguished, eminent and great.Pilgrimage, a journey to a place for devotion. Pilgrim, a person who goes on a pilgrimage.Determined will, allowing nothing to turn them from their purpose.Relinquish, to give up, to abandon.Luxuries, dainties, delicacies.Peasantry, the common country people.Swerve, to turn away from.Consecrated, made sacred and venerable.Hermitage, a place where a hermit lives.
Monastic school, a school kept in a monastery.
Distinguished, eminent and great.
Pilgrimage, a journey to a place for devotion. Pilgrim, a person who goes on a pilgrimage.
Determined will, allowing nothing to turn them from their purpose.
Relinquish, to give up, to abandon.
Luxuries, dainties, delicacies.
Peasantry, the common country people.
Swerve, to turn away from.
Consecrated, made sacred and venerable.
Hermitage, a place where a hermit lives.
XXXIX.—Page 170.
Object of their pilgrimage, the place they chiefly came to visit.Sojourn, to dwell, to live in a place.Revere, to regard with honour, love, and respect.Memorial, something that reminds one of past persons or events.Vehemently, very earnestly.Envied, people of other nations envied them, or were jealous of them.Triumphant, gaining victories.
Object of their pilgrimage, the place they chiefly came to visit.
Sojourn, to dwell, to live in a place.
Revere, to regard with honour, love, and respect.
Memorial, something that reminds one of past persons or events.
Vehemently, very earnestly.
Envied, people of other nations envied them, or were jealous of them.
Triumphant, gaining victories.
XL.—Page 173.
Successfully cultivated: the Irish people studied and practised them and made improvements.Pirates, sea robbers.Permanently, remaining there always.Expel, to drive out.Sovereignty, headship, kingship.Annex, to join.Encroaching, taking up or advancing on what belongs to another.Anglo-Irish, partly English and partly Irish.Milesian stock, the descendants of the Milesians (see p.2).
Successfully cultivated: the Irish people studied and practised them and made improvements.
Pirates, sea robbers.
Permanently, remaining there always.
Expel, to drive out.
Sovereignty, headship, kingship.
Annex, to join.
Encroaching, taking up or advancing on what belongs to another.
Anglo-Irish, partly English and partly Irish.
Milesian stock, the descendants of the Milesians (see p.2).
XLI.—Page 179.
Croon, a continuous murmuring sort of musical sound or song.Squire, a gentleman who attended on a knight.Nier, a river flowing into the Suir from the Co. Waterford.Spectrally, like a spectre or ghost.Jack, a leathern jacket used for armour.Plumes, the feathers of their helmets.
Croon, a continuous murmuring sort of musical sound or song.
Squire, a gentleman who attended on a knight.
Nier, a river flowing into the Suir from the Co. Waterford.
Spectrally, like a spectre or ghost.
Jack, a leathern jacket used for armour.
Plumes, the feathers of their helmets.
XLII.—Page 181.
Claimant, a person laying claim to something.Contend, to struggle or fight.Unimportant, trifling, of no consequence.Remote, far off, out of the way.Recognise, to know.Prostrate, down on hands and knees.Barons, lords.Ambush, or ambuscade, an unexpected attack from a hiding place.Reverses, misfortunes.Surrender, to give up.Vigilant, watchful.Truce, an agreement for peace for a while.Annals, histories of events as they occurred from year to year.
Claimant, a person laying claim to something.
Contend, to struggle or fight.
Unimportant, trifling, of no consequence.
Remote, far off, out of the way.
Recognise, to know.
Prostrate, down on hands and knees.
Barons, lords.
Ambush, or ambuscade, an unexpected attack from a hiding place.
Reverses, misfortunes.
Surrender, to give up.
Vigilant, watchful.
Truce, an agreement for peace for a while.
Annals, histories of events as they occurred from year to year.
XLIII.—Page 186.
Cahal-More, Cahal the Great.Portent, a prodigy, a fearful sign or omen of evil.Entranced, in a trance, in a vision.A land of morn, a bright sunny land.Lustrous, bright, shining with fine crops and flowers.Resplendent, splendid, sunny, bright.Anon, immediately, on the spot.Port sublime, stately and grand looking.Him queried I, I asked him.Golden time, a prosperous plentiful time.Bland, soft, mild, temperate.Dome, a grand building.As by a spell, as if by magic; it started up suddenly. Remember this is all in a dream.Lyres, harps.Wreathèd swell, sounding all together with sweet musical turns and shakes.Thrilling, moving the feelings and heart.Aghast, frightened, pale with fear.Minstrel group, those who had been playing the harps.'Twas then the time we were in the days. The poet means:—"Something dreadful has clearly happened; but how can this be, since this is the reign of Cahal-More?" He did not know—in his dream—of Cahal's death.Fleckt, spotted.Alien sun, a strange sun: it was of course strange, for it glared from thenorth.Shorn beams, not bright, giving a dull gloomy sort of light.Skeleton: the skeleton of a man, a sign of disaster: the skeleton, and the blood spots in the sky, and the "alien sun" were some of the portents.Castled Maine: there are many castles along its banks.Teuton, a German.
Cahal-More, Cahal the Great.
Portent, a prodigy, a fearful sign or omen of evil.
Entranced, in a trance, in a vision.
A land of morn, a bright sunny land.
Lustrous, bright, shining with fine crops and flowers.
Resplendent, splendid, sunny, bright.
Anon, immediately, on the spot.
Port sublime, stately and grand looking.
Him queried I, I asked him.
Golden time, a prosperous plentiful time.
Bland, soft, mild, temperate.
Dome, a grand building.
As by a spell, as if by magic; it started up suddenly. Remember this is all in a dream.
Lyres, harps.
Wreathèd swell, sounding all together with sweet musical turns and shakes.
Thrilling, moving the feelings and heart.
Aghast, frightened, pale with fear.
Minstrel group, those who had been playing the harps.
'Twas then the time we were in the days. The poet means:—"Something dreadful has clearly happened; but how can this be, since this is the reign of Cahal-More?" He did not know—in his dream—of Cahal's death.
Fleckt, spotted.
Alien sun, a strange sun: it was of course strange, for it glared from thenorth.
Shorn beams, not bright, giving a dull gloomy sort of light.
Skeleton: the skeleton of a man, a sign of disaster: the skeleton, and the blood spots in the sky, and the "alien sun" were some of the portents.
Castled Maine: there are many castles along its banks.
Teuton, a German.
XLIV.—Page 190.