An elementary school teacher sends this note to all parents on the first day of school.
"If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I will promise not to believe everything your child says happens at home.
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]
