17
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DECEMBER 17.—As I open my scribbling diary I find the words “Oxford Michaelmas Term ends.”
AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A serious discussion concerning the use and value of my diary.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Lupin’s unfortunate engagement is on again.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A serious discussion concerning the use and value of my diary.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading DECEMBER 17.—As I open my scribbling diary I find the words “Oxford Michaelmas Term ends.”
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
concerningverbUS /kənˈsɜːrnɪŋ/
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading A serious discussion concerning the use and value of my diary.
DECEMBERnounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading DECEMBER 17.—As I open my scribbling diary I find the words “Oxford Michaelmas Term ends.”
diarynounUS /ˈdaɪəri/
a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations
From this reading A serious discussion concerning the use and value of my diary.
discussionnounUS /dɪˈskʌʃən/
an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic
From this reading A serious discussion concerning the use and value of my diary.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
endsnounUS /endz/
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading DECEMBER 17.—As I open my scribbling diary I find the words “Oxford Michaelmas Term ends.”
engagementnounUS /enˈɡeɪdʒmənt/
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Lupin’s unfortunate engagement is on again.
findverbUS /faɪnd/
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading DECEMBER 17.—As I open my scribbling diary I find the words “Oxford Michaelmas Term ends.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading DECEMBER 17.—As I open my scribbling diary I find the words “Oxford Michaelmas Term ends.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
induceverbUS /ˌɪnˈduːs/
cause to arise
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
indulgeverbUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒ/
give free rein to
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lupin’s unfortunate engagement is on again.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
Lupin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lupin’s opinion of ’Xmas.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
Michaelmasnoun
honoring the archangel Michael; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland
From this reading DECEMBER 17.—As I open my scribbling diary I find the words “Oxford Michaelmas Term ends.”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A serious discussion concerning the use and value of my diary.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A serious discussion concerning the use and value of my diary.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Lupin’s unfortunate engagement is on again.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading DECEMBER 17.—As I open my scribbling diary I find the words “Oxford Michaelmas Term ends.”
opinionnounUS /əˈpɪnjən/
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading Lupin’s opinion of ’Xmas.
OxfordnounUS /ˈɑːksfərd/
a city in southern England to the northwest of London; site of Oxford University
From this reading DECEMBER 17.—As I open my scribbling diary I find the words “Oxford Michaelmas Term ends.”
retrospectivenounUS /ˌretrəˈspektɪv/
an exhibition of a representative selection of an artist's life work
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
scribblingverbUS /ˈskrɪbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “scribble” — write down quickly without much attention to detail
From this reading DECEMBER 17.—As I open my scribbling diary I find the words “Oxford Michaelmas Term ends.”
seriousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriəs/
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading A serious discussion concerning the use and value of my diary.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
TermnounUS /tɜːrm/
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading DECEMBER 17.—As I open my scribbling diary I find the words “Oxford Michaelmas Term ends.”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A serious discussion concerning the use and value of my diary.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
unfortunateadjectiveUS /ənˈfɔːrtʃənət/
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading Lupin’s unfortunate engagement is on again.
usenounUS /juːs/
the act of using
From this reading A serious discussion concerning the use and value of my diary.
valuenounUS /ˈvæljuː/
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading A serious discussion concerning the use and value of my diary.
WhynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why this should induce me to indulge in retrospective I don’t know, but it does.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading DECEMBER 17.—As I open my scribbling diary I find the words “Oxford Michaelmas Term ends.”
Xmasnoun
a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland
From this reading Lupin’s opinion of ’Xmas.