areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are wondering why I produce the Black Book," said the master slowly, as though reading their thoughts.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "You are wondering why I produce the Black Book," said the master slowly, as though reading their thoughts.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading FOUND OUT Why had the master produced the Black Book?
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading FOUND OUT Why had the master produced the Black Book?
culpritnounUS /ˈkʌlprɪt/
someone who perpetrates wrongdoing
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "I will explain--we have never yet discovered who tore out the leaves from this book.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
expelledverbUS /ɪkˈspeld/
inflected form of “expel” — force to leave or move out
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
expellingnounUS /ɪkˈspelɪŋ/
any of several bodily processes by which substances go out of the body
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "I will explain--we have never yet discovered who tore out the leaves from this book.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
set up or found
From this reading FOUND OUT Why had the master produced the Black Book?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "I will explain--we have never yet discovered who tore out the leaves from this book.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading FOUND OUT Why had the master produced the Black Book?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I will explain--we have never yet discovered who tore out the leaves from this book.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "You are wondering why I produce the Black Book," said the master slowly, as though reading their thoughts.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading "I will explain--we have never yet discovered who tore out the leaves from this book.
engage in
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading FOUND OUT Why had the master produced the Black Book?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "I will explain--we have never yet discovered who tore out the leaves from this book.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading FOUND OUT Why had the master produced the Black Book?
Percival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
bring forth or yield
From this reading "You are wondering why I produce the Black Book," said the master slowly, as though reading their thoughts.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading FOUND OUT Why had the master produced the Black Book?
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading "You are wondering why I produce the Black Book," said the master slowly, as though reading their thoughts.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You are wondering why I produce the Black Book," said the master slowly, as though reading their thoughts.
an educational institution
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading "You are wondering why I produce the Black Book," said the master slowly, as though reading their thoughts.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FOUND OUT Why had the master produced the Black Book?
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "You are wondering why I produce the Black Book," said the master slowly, as though reading their thoughts.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "I will explain--we have never yet discovered who tore out the leaves from this book.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "You are wondering why I produce the Black Book," said the master slowly, as though reading their thoughts.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "You are wondering why I produce the Black Book," said the master slowly, as though reading their thoughts.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading "I will explain--we have never yet discovered who tore out the leaves from this book.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "I will explain--we have never yet discovered who tore out the leaves from this book.
(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 It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
which person or people
From this reading "I will explain--we have never yet discovered who tore out the leaves from this book.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading FOUND OUT Why had the master produced the Black Book?
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "I will explain--we have never yet discovered who tore out the leaves from this book.
in the company of; together with
From this reading What was it to do with the question whether Percival should or should not be expelled?
showing curiosity
From this reading "You are wondering why I produce the Black Book," said the master slowly, as though reading their thoughts.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It occurred to me that before taking the step of expelling Percival from the school, it would be as well to make one more effort to find out who is the culprit.
but in spite of that
From this reading "I will explain--we have never yet discovered who tore out the leaves from this book.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are wondering why I produce the Black Book," said the master slowly, as though reading their thoughts.
