Ancient, very old, belonging to old times.
Magician, one skilled in magic or witchcraft; an enchanter.
Spell, a charm, something done by enchantment.
Druid. The druids were the learned men among the pagan Irish: they were believed to be wizards, or magicians.
Seer, one who can foresee events, a prophet.
Wistfully, thoughtfully, attentively, longingly.
Cairn, a great pile of stones heaped up in memory of some person or some event. A cairn was very often raised over the grave of some important person. See page 97.
Hostage, a person given as a pledge, or security, for carrying out some agreement.
Possessing mighty power over people, able to persuade them by his earnestness and his powerful language.
Destined home: the druid had foretold that Inisfail, or the Isle of Destiny, was to be their final home.
Emerald, a precious stone of a green colour. Ireland, from its greenness, is often called the Emerald Isle.
Day god, the sun. Some of the pagan Irish worshipped the sun.
Conn the Hundred-fighter, or, as he is often called, Conn of the Hundred Battles, was King of Ireland from A.D. 177 to 212.
Crystal, a sort of transparent mineral: glass, or anything like glass.
Mace, here means a heavy-headed club used in fighting, generally for striking.
Hospitality, kindness to strangers, free and generous entertainment of visitors.
Establishment, the whole house, and all belonging to it.
Gorget, an ornamental collar for the neck: the Irish gorgets were mostly of gold.
Bronze, a mixed metal made of copper and tin melted together. The ancient Irish used a sort of white or whitish bronze, which they called _findruine_ [_finn´-drin-ă_].
Enamel, a beautiful glassy substance, of various colours, used in metal work.
Museum, a place where curiosities of all kinds are kept, especially objects belonging to ancient times.
Artificer, an artist, a worker in metals, bone, wood, &c.
Old Irish Laws: these were called the Brehon Laws.
Druidical, made by the druids, who were believed to be enchanters, like the Dedannans.
Gaelic speech, the Irish language, which all the people of Ireland then spoke.
Anthem, a song, a hymn: anthem of praise, _i.e._ of praise to God.
Adventurous, spirited, daring, courageous.
Abhor, to hate, to detest, to have a horror of.