used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading [Sidenote: _When you are a teacher, you expect kids to play pranks.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
any thing at all
From this reading It didn't seem likely that anything he could do would stop it.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading [Sidenote: _When you are a teacher, you expect kids to play pranks.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading What Rough Beast?
blackboardnounUS /ˈblækbɔːrd/
sheet of slate; for writing with chalk
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
bracedadjectiveUS /breɪst/
positioned so as to be ready for confrontation or danger
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
calculateverbUS /ˈkælkjəleɪt/
make a mathematical calculation or computation
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It didn't seem likely that anything he could do would stop it.
crucifiedverbUS /ˈkruːsəfaɪd/
inflected form of “crucify” — kill by nailing onto a cross
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It didn't seem likely that anything he could do would stop it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It didn't seem likely that anything he could do would stop it.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading [Sidenote: _When you are a teacher, you expect kids to play pranks.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It didn't seem likely that anything he could do would stop it.
headingnounUS /ˈhedɪŋ/
a line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Say something," he told himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
impendingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpendɪŋ/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
kidsnounUS /kɪdz/
plural of “kid” — a young person of either sex
From this reading [Sidenote: _When you are a teacher, you expect kids to play pranks.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading It didn't seem likely that anything he could do would stop it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
participate in games or sport
From this reading [Sidenote: _When you are a teacher, you expect kids to play pranks.
pranksnounUS /præŋks/
plural of “prank” — acting like a clown or buffoon
From this reading [Sidenote: _When you are a teacher, you expect kids to play pranks.
riotnounUS /ˈraɪət/
a public act of violence by an unruly mob
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading What Rough Beast?
express in words
From this reading "Say something," he told himself.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It didn't seem likely that anything he could do would stop it.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
Sidenote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Sidenote: _When you are a teacher, you expect kids to play pranks.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "Say something," he told himself.
having a supporting base
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading It didn't seem likely that anything he could do would stop it.
a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading [Sidenote: _When you are a teacher, you expect kids to play pranks.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It didn't seem likely that anything he could do would stop it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
tigersnounUS /ˈtaɪɡərz/
a terrorist organization in Sri Lanka that began in 1970 as a student protest over the limited university access for Tamil students
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading [Sidenote: _When you are a teacher, you expect kids to play pranks.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "Say something," he told himself.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
WardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What Rough Beast?
at the time that
From this reading [Sidenote: _When you are a teacher, you expect kids to play pranks.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading But with tigers--and worse?_] Standing braced--or, as it seemed to him, crucified--against the length of the blackboard, John Ward tried to calculate his chances of heading off the impending riot.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It didn't seem likely that anything he could do would stop it.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading [Sidenote: _When you are a teacher, you expect kids to play pranks.
