used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading There is no epidemic more catching than grumbling, however, and the complaint spread rapidly.
complaintnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnt/
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading There is no epidemic more catching than grumbling, however, and the complaint spread rapidly.
complaintsnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnts/
plural of “complaint” — an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
creepverbUS /kriːp/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
dissatisfactionnounUS /ˌdɪsætɪˈsfækʃən/
the feeling of being displeased and discontent
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading It had the unfortunate effect of reacting upon itself.
epidemicnounUS /ˌepəˈdemɪk/
a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time
From this reading There is no epidemic more catching than grumbling, however, and the complaint spread rapidly.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
germsnounUS /dʒɜːrmz/
plural of “germ” — anything that provides inspiration for later work
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
grumblingnounUS /ˈɡrʌmbəlɪŋ/
a loud low dull continuous noise
From this reading There is no epidemic more catching than grumbling, however, and the complaint spread rapidly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had the unfortunate effect of reacting upon itself.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading There is no epidemic more catching than grumbling, however, and the complaint spread rapidly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
influenzanounUS /ˌɪnfluːˈenzə/
an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is no epidemic more catching than grumbling, however, and the complaint spread rapidly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It had the unfortunate effect of reacting upon itself.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
not any; not one
From this reading There is no epidemic more catching than grumbling, however, and the complaint spread rapidly.
no person; not anyone
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
originnounUS /ˈɔːrədʒən/
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
with speed
From this reading There is no epidemic more catching than grumbling, however, and the complaint spread rapidly.
reactingverbUS /riˈæktɪŋ/
-ing form of “react” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading It had the unfortunate effect of reacting upon itself.
restiveadjectiveUS /ˈrestɪv/
being in a tense state
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
an educational institution
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading There is no epidemic more catching than grumbling, however, and the complaint spread rapidly.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
strictadjectiveUS /strɪkt/
rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
teachersnounUS /ˈtiːtʃərz/
plural of “teacher” — a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is no epidemic more catching than grumbling, however, and the complaint spread rapidly.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
a just detectable amount
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
a source of difficulty
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading It had the unfortunate effect of reacting upon itself.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It had the unfortunate effect of reacting upon itself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On Strike It was about this time that a general spirit of trouble and dissatisfaction seemed to creep into the school.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The fact that the girls were restive made the teachers more strict, and that in its turn produced fresh complaints.
in or at the place that
From this reading How and where it started nobody knew, any more than one can trace the origin of influenza germs.
