adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading (This is a falsehood.
absurdadjectiveUS /əbˈsɜːrd/
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
adequateadjectiveUS /ˈædəkwət/
having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “How is it that I can never get an answer when I ring?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
answerverbUS /ˈænsər/
react verbally
From this reading “How is it that I can never get an answer when I ring?
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Here have I been ringing for the last half-hour.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “How is it that I can never get an answer when I ring?
CompanynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
complainverbUS /kəmˈpleɪn/
express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
continueverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuː/
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
disgracefuladjectiveUS /dɪsˈɡreɪsfəl/
giving offense to moral sensibilities and injurious to reputation
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
exaggerationnounUS /ɪɡˌzædʒərˈeɪʃən/
extravagant exaggeration
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
falsehoodnounUS /ˈfælshʊd/
a false statement
From this reading (This is a falsehood.
feelverbUS /fiːl/
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Here have I been ringing for the last half-hour.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “How is it that I can never get an answer when I ring?
half-hournounUS /ˈhæfaʊər/
a half of an hour
From this reading Here have I been ringing for the last half-hour.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Here have I been ringing for the last half-hour.
HereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here have I been ringing for the last half-hour.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How is it that I can never get an answer when I ring?
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “How is it that I can never get an answer when I ring?
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “How is it that I can never get an answer when I ring?
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “How is it that I can never get an answer when I ring?
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading Here have I been ringing for the last half-hour.
mereadjectiveUS /mɪr/
being nothing more than specified
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “How is it that I can never get an answer when I ring?
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
occasionnounUS /əˈkeɪʒən/
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
ringverbUS /rɪŋ/
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading “How is it that I can never get an answer when I ring?
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading Here have I been ringing for the last half-hour.
rungnounUS /rʌŋ/
a crosspiece between the legs of a chair
From this reading I have rung twenty times.”
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
sixnounUS /sɪks/
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “How is it that I can never get an answer when I ring?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Here have I been ringing for the last half-hour.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading (This is a falsehood.
timesnounUS /taɪmz/
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading I have rung twenty times.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
truthnounUS /truːθ/
a fact that has been verified
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
twentynounUS /ˈtwenti/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading I have rung twenty times.”
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “How is it that I can never get an answer when I ring?
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You have rung only six times, and the “half-hour” is an absurd exaggeration; but you feel the mere truth would not be adequate to the occasion.) “I think it disgraceful,” you continue, “and I shall complain to the Company.
