used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
a youthful male person
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
contrivancenounUS /kənˈtraɪvəns/
a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
at any time
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
a young female
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
not any; not one
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
and nothing more
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
by chance
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
a human being
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
person'snounUS /ˈpɜːrsənz/
possessive form of “person” — a human being
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
pranknounUS /præŋk/
acting like a clown or buffoon
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
PROPOSITIONnounUS /ˌprɑːpəˈzɪʃən/
(logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
readersnounUS /ˈriːdərz/
plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
scareverbUS /sker/
cause fear in
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
tic-tac
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
in or at the place that
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
which person or people
From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
