used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading But the matter went beyond this school room.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the matter went beyond this school room.
CANTWELL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
hoaxnounUS /hoʊks/
something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
holdsnounUS /hoʊldz/
plural of “hold” — the act of grasping
From this reading An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But the matter went beyond this school room.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule.
a form of address for a man
From this reading MR.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule.
OFTENERadverbUS /ˈɔːfənər/
more often or more frequently
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule.
perpetratedverbUS /ˈpɜːrpətreɪtɪd/
past form of “perpetrate” — perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
prepared and printed for distribution and sale
From this reading An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule.
ridiculenounUS /ˈrɪdəkjuːl/
language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate
From this reading An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading But the matter went beyond this school room.
an educational institution
From this reading But the matter went beyond this school room.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule.
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But the matter went beyond this school room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule.
two times
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule.
precisely as stated
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But the matter went beyond this school room.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
the day immediately before today
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I do not believe you will have any difficulty in understanding what I mean.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading CANTWELL THINKS TWICE---OR OFTENER "Young ladies and young gentlemen," began the principal, "a very silly hoax was perpetrated on me yesterday.
