used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading "Thanks to Ralph Duncan's explanation the recommended action against Edward Summers has been withdrawn...."
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading "Thanks to Ralph Duncan's explanation the recommended action against Edward Summers has been withdrawn...."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a twinkle in the principal's eyes as he started to speak.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Thanks to Ralph Duncan's explanation the recommended action against Edward Summers has been withdrawn...."
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys started to cheer ... they just couldn't help it ... but the principal raised his hand.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The boys started to cheer ... they just couldn't help it ... but the principal raised his hand.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
give encouragement to
From this reading The boys started to cheer ... they just couldn't help it ... but the principal raised his hand.
power to direct or determine
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys started to cheer ... they just couldn't help it ... but the principal raised his hand.
crestfallenadjectiveUS /ˈkrestfɔːlən/
brought low in spirit
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
Duncan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thanks to Ralph Duncan's explanation the recommended action against Edward Summers has been withdrawn...."
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading "Thanks to Ralph Duncan's explanation the recommended action against Edward Summers has been withdrawn...."
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading "Thanks to Ralph Duncan's explanation the recommended action against Edward Summers has been withdrawn...."
opinion or judgment
From this reading There was a twinkle in the principal's eyes as he started to speak.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The boys started to cheer ... they just couldn't help it ... but the principal raised his hand.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Thanks to Ralph Duncan's explanation the recommended action against Edward Summers has been withdrawn...."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a twinkle in the principal's eyes as he started to speak.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The boys started to cheer ... they just couldn't help it ... but the principal raised his hand.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The boys started to cheer ... they just couldn't help it ... but the principal raised his hand.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The boys started to cheer ... they just couldn't help it ... but the principal raised his hand.
and nothing more
From this reading The boys started to cheer ... they just couldn't help it ... but the principal raised his hand.
immediately past
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
a large number or amount
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
ObadiahnounUS /ˌoʊbəˈdaɪə/
a Hebrew minor prophet
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
outrightadverbUS /ˈaʊˈtraɪt/
without restrictions or stipulations or further payments
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
principal'snounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəlz/
possessive form of “principal” — the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading There was a twinkle in the principal's eyes as he started to speak.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading The boys started to cheer ... they just couldn't help it ... but the principal raised his hand.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thanks to Ralph Duncan's explanation the recommended action against Edward Summers has been withdrawn...."
recommendedverbUS /ˌrekəˈmendɪd/
past form of “recommend” — push for something
From this reading "Thanks to Ralph Duncan's explanation the recommended action against Edward Summers has been withdrawn...."
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
SawyernounUS /ˈsɔːjər/
one who is employed to saw wood
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
your consciousness of your own identity
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
express in speech
From this reading There was a twinkle in the principal's eyes as he started to speak.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading There was a twinkle in the principal's eyes as he started to speak.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading At last Principal Sawyer stepped forward and Obadiah sank down in a chair, crestfallen.
successive (without a break)
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
SummersnounUS /ˈsʌmərz/
plural of “summer” — the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading "Thanks to Ralph Duncan's explanation the recommended action against Edward Summers has been withdrawn...."
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading "Thanks to Ralph Duncan's explanation the recommended action against Edward Summers has been withdrawn...."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a twinkle in the principal's eyes as he started to speak.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a twinkle in the principal's eyes as he started to speak.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boys started to cheer ... they just couldn't help it ... but the principal raised his hand.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading I believe he'd have laughed outright--now that he had the straight of things--if he hadn't had lots of self control.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a twinkle in the principal's eyes as he started to speak.
twinkleverbUS /ˈtwɪŋkəl/
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading There was a twinkle in the principal's eyes as he started to speak.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a twinkle in the principal's eyes as he started to speak.
withdrawnadjectiveUS /wɪθˈdrɔːn/
withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
From this reading "Thanks to Ralph Duncan's explanation the recommended action against Edward Summers has been withdrawn...."
