used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “The teasing of my pupils was by no means at an end.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But they did it secretively now, and the blame was hard to fix.
annoyedadjectiveUS /əˈnɔɪd/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading On the contrary, they annoyed me as much as possible.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On the contrary, they annoyed me as much as possible.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “The teasing of my pupils was by no means at an end.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
put or pin the blame on
From this reading But they did it secretively now, and the blame was hard to fix.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But they did it secretively now, and the blame was hard to fix.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “The teasing of my pupils was by no means at an end.
clothing in general
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading On the contrary, they annoyed me as much as possible.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But they did it secretively now, and the blame was hard to fix.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading “The teasing of my pupils was by no means at an end.
exchangedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒd/
changed for (replaced by) something different
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading But they did it secretively now, and the blame was hard to fix.
set up or found
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/
plural of “glance” — a quick look
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading But they did it secretively now, and the blame was hard to fix.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
provoking horror
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
inknounUS /ɪŋk/
a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
insolencenounUS /ˈɪnsələns/
the trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But they did it secretively now, and the blame was hard to fix.
jeeredverbUS /dʒɪrd/
past form of “jeer” — laugh at with contempt and derision
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
liednounUS /laɪd/
a German art song of the 19th century for voice and piano
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On the contrary, they annoyed me as much as possible.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading “The teasing of my pupils was by no means at an end.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading On the contrary, they annoyed me as much as possible.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “The teasing of my pupils was by no means at an end.
needlesnounUS /ˈniːdəlz/
plural of “needle” — the leaf of a conifer
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
not any; not one
From this reading “The teasing of my pupils was by no means at an end.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But they did it secretively now, and the blame was hard to fix.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The teasing of my pupils was by no means at an end.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the contrary, they annoyed me as much as possible.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
pebblesnounUS /ˈpebəlz/
plural of “pebble” — a small smooth rounded rock
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading On the contrary, they annoyed me as much as possible.
pupilsnounUS /ˈpjuːpəlz/
plural of “pupil” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading “The teasing of my pupils was by no means at an end.
rentverbUS /rent/
let for money
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/
worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
secretivelyadverb
in a secretive manner; with a preference for secrecy
From this reading But they did it secretively now, and the blame was hard to fix.
shamelessadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪmləs/
feeling no shame
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
spilledverbUS /spɪld/
past form of “spill” — cause or allow (a liquid substance) to run or flow from a container
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading I found pebbles and needles in my bed, ink spilled over my books, a horrible rent in the best suit of clothes I had.
teasingnounUS /ˈtiːzɪŋ/
the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances
From this reading “The teasing of my pupils was by no means at an end.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The teasing of my pupils was by no means at an end.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the contrary, they annoyed me as much as possible.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But they did it secretively now, and the blame was hard to fix.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The teasing of my pupils was by no means at an end.
at the time that
From this reading They jeered at me before others, lied about me to their mother, and exchanged glances of shameless insolence when I held them responsible.
