used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
ALIBInounUS /ˈæləbaɪ/
(law) a defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question
From this reading THE ALIBI "And all love's clanging trumpets shocked and blew."
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading THE ALIBI "And all love's clanging trumpets shocked and blew."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE ALIBI "And all love's clanging trumpets shocked and blew."
Arcadia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading THE ALIBI "And all love's clanging trumpets shocked and blew."
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
celebre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
clangingadjectiveUS /ˈklæŋɪŋ/
having a loud resonant metallic sound
From this reading THE ALIBI "And all love's clanging trumpets shocked and blew."
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
courthousenounUS /ˈkɔːrthaʊs/
a government building that houses the offices of a county government
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
courtroomnounUS /ˈkɔːrtruːm/
a room in which a lawcourt sits
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading The room was crowded.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
divisible by two
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
executioner'snounUS /ˌeksəˈkjuːʃənərz/
possessive form of “executioner” — an official who inflicts capital punishment in pursuit of a warrant
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
the act of departing
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
hearingsnounUS /ˈhiːrɪŋz/
plural of “hearing” — (law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
hearsenounUS /hɜːrs/
a vehicle for carrying a coffin to a church or a cemetery; formerly drawn by horses but now usually a motor vehicle
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
the quality of being just or fair
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
love'snounUS /lʌvz/
possessive form of “love” — a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading THE ALIBI "And all love's clanging trumpets shocked and blew."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
held or filled or in use
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was crowded.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
sessionnounUS /ˈseʃən/
a meeting for execution of a group's functions
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
shockedadjectiveUS /ʃɑːkt/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading THE ALIBI "And all love's clanging trumpets shocked and blew."
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ALIBI "And all love's clanging trumpets shocked and blew."
in or at that place or location
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
a special situation
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
trumpetsnounUS /ˈtrʌmpəts/
pitcher plant of southeastern United States having erect yellow trumpet-shaped pitchers with wide mouths and erect lids
From this reading THE ALIBI "And all love's clanging trumpets shocked and blew."
make an effort or attempt
From this reading It was a new courthouse; there are people impatient to try even a new hearse; and this bade fair to be Arcadia's first _cause celebre_.
except if; if not
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
at the time that
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The justice of the peace, when the county court was not in session, held hearings in the courtroom proper, which occupied the entire second story of the county courthouse.
WonderlandnounUS /ˈwʌndərlænd/
a place or scene of great or strange beauty or wonder
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from; that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin at _his_ time of life."--_Alice in Wonderland._
