used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading PRICKING A BUBBLE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Tomorrow is election day, and if a toothache hadn't carried you to the dentist's office Kenneth would surely have been defeated."
BUBBLEverbUS /ˈbʌbəl/
form, produce, or emit bubbles
From this reading PRICKING A BUBBLE.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Tomorrow is election day, and if a toothache hadn't carried you to the dentist's office Kenneth would surely have been defeated."
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
a body serving in an administrative capacity
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Tomorrow is election day, and if a toothache hadn't carried you to the dentist's office Kenneth would surely have been defeated."
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
defeatedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfiːtəd/
beaten or overcome; not victorious
From this reading Tomorrow is election day, and if a toothache hadn't carried you to the dentist's office Kenneth would surely have been defeated."
dentist'snounUS /ˈdentɪsts/
possessive form of “dentist” — a person qualified to practice dentistry
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
eavesdroppingverbUS /ˈiːvzdrɑːpɪŋ/
inflected form of “eavesdrop” — listen without the speaker's knowledge
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
electionnounUS /ɪˈlekʃən/
a vote to select the winner of a position or political office
From this reading Tomorrow is election day, and if a toothache hadn't carried you to the dentist's office Kenneth would surely have been defeated."
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
a young female
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
the act of departing
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
death of a person
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tomorrow is election day, and if a toothache hadn't carried you to the dentist's office Kenneth would surely have been defeated."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Tomorrow is election day, and if a toothache hadn't carried you to the dentist's office Kenneth would surely have been defeated."
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
where you live at a particular time
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Tomorrow is election day, and if a toothache hadn't carried you to the dentist's office Kenneth would surely have been defeated."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
justifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪd/
having words so spaced that lines have straight even margins
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
Kenneth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
overheardverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhɜːrd/
inflected form of “overhear” — hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
PatsynounUS /ˈpætsi/
a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
participate in games or sport
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
PRICKINGnoun
the act of puncturing with a small point
From this reading PRICKING A BUBBLE.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
being connected either logically or causally or by shared characteristics
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Tomorrow is election day, and if a toothache hadn't carried you to the dentist's office Kenneth would surely have been defeated."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
a special situation
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
TomorrownounUS /təˈmɑːroʊ/
the day after today
From this reading Tomorrow is election day, and if a toothache hadn't carried you to the dentist's office Kenneth would surely have been defeated."
toothachenoun
an ache localized in or around a tooth
From this reading Tomorrow is election day, and if a toothache hadn't carried you to the dentist's office Kenneth would surely have been defeated."
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
precisely as stated
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
WatsonnounUS /ˈwɑːtsən/
United States telephone engineer who assisted Alexander Graham Bell in his experiments (1854-1934)
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "It isn't a very nice thing to do--listening to a private conversation," said the girl, "but when I discovered they were going to play such a trick on Kenneth I couldn't help eavesdropping."
at the time that
From this reading When Patsy arrived home she called a council of war and related the conversation she had overheard in the dentist's office.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Tomorrow is election day, and if a toothache hadn't carried you to the dentist's office Kenneth would surely have been defeated."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I think you were justified," declared Mr. Watson, with a grave face; "for this matter is very serious indeed.
