used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is characteristic of the head master to choose a feeble Eclogue of Virgil instead of one of the admirable Georgics.
admirableadjectiveUS /ˈædmərəbəl/
deserving of the highest esteem or admiration
From this reading It is characteristic of the head master to choose a feeble Eclogue of Virgil instead of one of the admirable Georgics.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The result was I was told to stay in during the afternoon and copy out the First Eclogue of Virgil.
agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/
an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The result was I was told to stay in during the afternoon and copy out the First Eclogue of Virgil.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Jonas Pike is to be flogged, as soon as his foot is well, for his untruthfulness.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Jonas Pike is to be flogged, as soon as his foot is well, for his untruthfulness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading It is characteristic of the head master to choose a feeble Eclogue of Virgil instead of one of the admirable Georgics.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading It is characteristic of the head master to choose a feeble Eclogue of Virgil instead of one of the admirable Georgics.
a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)
From this reading The result was I was told to stay in during the afternoon and copy out the First Eclogue of Virgil.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The result was I was told to stay in during the afternoon and copy out the First Eclogue of Virgil.
Ecloguenoun
a short poem descriptive of rural or pastoral life
From this reading The result was I was told to stay in during the afternoon and copy out the First Eclogue of Virgil.
feebleadjectiveUS /ˈfiːbəl/
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
From this reading It is characteristic of the head master to choose a feeble Eclogue of Virgil instead of one of the admirable Georgics.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The result was I was told to stay in during the afternoon and copy out the First Eclogue of Virgil.
flogged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jonas Pike is to be flogged, as soon as his foot is well, for his untruthfulness.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Jonas Pike is to be flogged, as soon as his foot is well, for his untruthfulness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Jonas Pike is to be flogged, as soon as his foot is well, for his untruthfulness.
Georgics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is characteristic of the head master to choose a feeble Eclogue of Virgil instead of one of the admirable Georgics.
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 head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jonas Pike is to be flogged, as soon as his foot is well, for his untruthfulness.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading It is characteristic of the head master to choose a feeble Eclogue of Virgil instead of one of the admirable Georgics.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
Jonas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jonas Pike is to be flogged, as soon as his foot is well, for his untruthfulness.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
not any; not one
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It is characteristic of the head master to choose a feeble Eclogue of Virgil instead of one of the admirable Georgics.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The result was I was told to stay in during the afternoon and copy out the First Eclogue of Virgil.
passiveadjectiveUS /ˈpæsɪv/
lacking in energy or will
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
perceiveverbUS /pərˈsiːv/
to become aware of through the senses
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
PikenounUS /paɪk/
a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic
From this reading Jonas Pike is to be flogged, as soon as his foot is well, for his untruthfulness.
plain-speaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
positivelyadverbUS /ˈpɑːzətɪvli/
extremely
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
resistingverbUS /rɪˈzɪstɪŋ/
-ing form of “resist” — elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The result was I was told to stay in during the afternoon and copy out the First Eclogue of Virgil.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
term of address for a man
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
in the near future
From this reading Jonas Pike is to be flogged, as soon as his foot is well, for his untruthfulness.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The result was I was told to stay in during the afternoon and copy out the First Eclogue of Virgil.
express a supposition
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The result was I was told to stay in during the afternoon and copy out the First Eclogue of Virgil.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
untruthfulnessnoun
the quality of being untruthful
From this reading Jonas Pike is to be flogged, as soon as his foot is well, for his untruthfulness.
unwarrantableadjective
incapable of being justified or explained
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
VirgilnounUS /ˈvɜːrdʒəl/
a Roman poet; author of the epic poem “Aeneid” (70-19 BC)
From this reading The result was I was told to stay in during the afternoon and copy out the First Eclogue of Virgil.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I answered, "No, sir; I was the resisting but not the passive agent in an unwarrantable assault."
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Jonas Pike is to be flogged, as soon as his foot is well, for his untruthfulness.
which person or people
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The head master, who is positively unable to perceive the importance of plain-speaking, said, "I suppose you mean you did it."
