used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I yelled; Goodwin had a spasm—almost a fit.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading I bit my lips till they bled.
bledverbUS /bled/
inflected form of “bleed” — lose blood from one's body
From this reading I bit my lips till they bled.
breachverbUS /briːtʃ/
act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
power to direct or determine
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
conventionaladjectiveUS /kənˈvenʃənəl/
following accepted customs and proprieties
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
decorumnounUS /dɪˈkɔːrəm/
propriety in manners and conduct
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
engagingadjectiveUS /enˈɡeɪdʒɪŋ/
attracting or delighting
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading I yelled; Goodwin had a spasm—almost a fit.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
a person of German nationality
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
Goodwin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
impressiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpresɪv/
making a strong or vivid impression
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading I bit my lips till they bled.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I bit my lips till they bled.
Nat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
oathnounUS /oʊθ/
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
recurring again and again
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
responsesnounUS /rɪˈspɑːnsɪz/
plural of “response” — a result
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
spasmnounUS /ˈspæzəm/
a painful and involuntary muscular contraction
From this reading I yelled; Goodwin had a spasm—almost a fit.
stowverbUS /stoʊ/
fill by packing tightly
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I bit my lips till they bled.
up to a particular time
From this reading I bit my lips till they bled.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
unpardonableadjective
not admitting of pardon
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
voicedadjectiveUS /vɔɪst/
produced with vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
at the time that
From this reading We had almost got full control of ourselves; the beautiful and impressive service was almost over, but when the oath was required, that engaging German repeated it backward.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Nat, less conventional, tried to stow his entire handkerchief in one side of his mouth, while he voiced the responses from the other.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Goodwin and I knew it would be an unpardonable breach of decorum, as bad as laughing aloud in church in prayer time, if we gave way to our feelings.
yelledadjectiveUS /jeld/
in a vehement outcry
From this reading I yelled; Goodwin had a spasm—almost a fit.
