Tom had won a toy at a raffle. He called his kids together to ask which one should have the present.
“Who is the most obedient?” he asked. “Who never talks back to mother? Who does everything she says?”
Five small voices answered in unison. “Okay, dad, you get the toy.”
v. (-ues, -ued, -uing) (often foll. By to) come as a natural increase or advantage, esp. Financial. [latin: related to *accretion]
ACCUSE
v. (-sing) (often foll. By of) charge with a fault or crime; blame. [latin accusare: related to *cause]
ACEOUS
suffix forming adjectives in the sense ‘of the nature of’, esp. In the natural sciences (herbaceous). [latin -aceus]
ACETIC
acid n. Clear liquid acid giving vinegar its characteristic taste.
- adj. Of or like vinegar. [latin acetum vinegar]
ACKACK
colloq. —adj. Anti-aircraft. —n. Anti-aircraft gun etc. [formerly signallers' term for aa]
ACQUIT
v. (-tt-) 1 (often foll. By of) declare not guilty.
- refl. A behave or perform in a specified way (acquitted herself well). B (foll. By of) discharge (a duty or responsibility). acquittal n. [latin: related to *ad-, *quit]
ACROSS
—prep. - to or on the other side of (across the river).
- from one side to another side of (spread across the floor).
- at or forming an angle with (a stripe across the flag). —adv. - to or on the other side (ran across).
- from one side to another (stretched across). across the board applying to all. [french à, en, croix: related to *cross]
ACTING
—n. Art or occupation of an actor. —attrib. Adj. Serving temporarily or as a substitute (acting manager).
ACTION
n. - process of doing or acting (demanded action).
- forcefulness or energy.
- exertion of energy or influence (action of acid on metal).
- deed, act (not aware of his actions).
- (the action) a series of events in a story, play, etc. B slang exciting activity (missed the action).
- battle, fighting (killed in action).
- a mechanism of an instrument. B style of movement of an animal or human.
- lawsuit. out of action not working. [latin: related to *act]
- point n. Proposal for action.
- replay n. Playback of part of a television broadcast, esp. A sporting event, often in slow motion.
- stations n.pl. Positions taken up by troops etc. Ready for battle.
ACTIVE
service n. Military service in wartime.
- —adj. - marked by action; energetic; diligent (an active life).
- working, operative (active volcano).
- not merely passive or inert; positive (active support; active ingredients).
- radioactive.
- gram. Designating the form of a verb whose subject performs the action (e.g. Saw in he saw a film). —n. Gram. Active form or voice of a verb. actively adv. [latin: related to *act]
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