adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country.
althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country.
American'snounUS /əˈmerɪkənz/
possessive form of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading SHARP WORK The American's easy-going badinage provided the best sort of tonic.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Theydon laughed as he transferred the pistol from one pocket to the other.
badinagenoun
frivolous banter
From this reading SHARP WORK The American's easy-going badinage provided the best sort of tonic.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading SHARP WORK The American's easy-going badinage provided the best sort of tonic.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country.
DefensenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
From this reading "My motto is 'Defense, not Defiance,'" he said.
DefiancenounUS /dɪˈfaɪəns/
intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
From this reading "My motto is 'Defense, not Defiance,'" he said.
easy-going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHARP WORK The American's easy-going badinage provided the best sort of tonic.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
firearmsnounUS /ˈfaɪərɑːrmz/
plural of “firearm” — a portable gun
From this reading Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Theydon laughed as he transferred the pistol from one pocket to the other.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Theydon laughed as he transferred the pistol from one pocket to the other.
hopenounUS /hoʊp/
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "My motto is 'Defense, not Defiance,'" he said.
laughedverbUS /læft/
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Theydon laughed as he transferred the pistol from one pocket to the other.
matternounUS /ˈmætər/
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country.
mottonounUS /ˈmɑːtoʊ/
a favorite saying of a sect or political group
From this reading "My motto is 'Defense, not Defiance,'" he said.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My motto is 'Defense, not Defiance,'" he said.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "My motto is 'Defense, not Defiance,'" he said.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SHARP WORK The American's easy-going badinage provided the best sort of tonic.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Theydon laughed as he transferred the pistol from one pocket to the other.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Theydon laughed as he transferred the pistol from one pocket to the other.
pistolnounUS /ˈpɪstəl/
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading Theydon laughed as he transferred the pistol from one pocket to the other.
pocketnounUS /ˈpɑːkət/
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading Theydon laughed as he transferred the pistol from one pocket to the other.
providedverbUS /prəˈvaɪdɪd/
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading SHARP WORK The American's easy-going badinage provided the best sort of tonic.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "My motto is 'Defense, not Defiance,'" he said.
self-protectionnoun
the act of defending yourself
From this reading Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country.
seriousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriəs/
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
SHARPadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading SHARP WORK The American's easy-going badinage provided the best sort of tonic.
shootverbUS /ʃuːt/
hit with a missile from a weapon
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
sincerelyadverbUS /sɪnˈsɪrli/
with sincerity; without pretense
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
sortnounUS /sɔːrt/
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading SHARP WORK The American's easy-going badinage provided the best sort of tonic.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SHARP WORK The American's easy-going badinage provided the best sort of tonic.
Theydon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theydon laughed as he transferred the pistol from one pocket to the other.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country.
threatenverbUS /ˈθretən/
pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten any one.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Theydon laughed as he transferred the pistol from one pocket to the other.
tonicadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːnɪk/
of or relating to or producing normal tone or tonus in muscles or tissue
From this reading SHARP WORK The American's easy-going badinage provided the best sort of tonic.
transferredverbUS /trænˈsfɜːrd/
inflected form of “transfer” — transfer somebody to a different position or location of work
From this reading Theydon laughed as he transferred the pistol from one pocket to the other.
UsingnounUS /ˈjuːzɪŋ/
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country.
WORKverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading SHARP WORK The American's easy-going badinage provided the best sort of tonic.
