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.”
purchase n. System of purchase by paying in instalments.
- purchase n. System of purchase by paying in instalments.
- —v. (-ring) 1 purchase the temporary use of (a thing) (hired a van).
- esp. Us employ (a person). —n. - hiring or being hired.
- payment for this. for (or on) hire ready to be hired. Hire out grant the temporary use of (a thing) for payment. hireable adj. Hirer n. [old english]
- —v. (-ring) 1 purchase the temporary use of (a thing) (hired a van).
- esp. Us employ (a person). —n. - hiring or being hired.
- payment for this. for (or on) hire ready to be hired. Hire out grant the temporary use of (a thing) for payment. hireable adj. Hirer n. [old english]
HISS
—v. - make a sharp sibilant sound, as of the letter s.
- express disapproval of by hisses.
- whisper urgently or angrily. —n. - sharp sibilant sound as of the letter s.
- electronics interference at audio frequencies. [imitative]
- —v. - make a sharp sibilant sound, as of the letter s.
- express disapproval of by hisses.
- whisper urgently or angrily. —n. - sharp sibilant sound as of the letter s.
- electronics interference at audio frequencies. [imitative]
HIVE
n. Beehive. hive off (-ving) separate from a larger group. [old english]
- n. Beehive. hive off (-ving) separate from a larger group. [old english]
HMSO
abbr. Her (or his) majesty's stationery office.
- abbr. Her (or his) majesty's stationery office.
HOAX
—n. Humorous or malicious deception. —v. Deceive (a person) with a hoax. [probably a shortening of hocus in *hocus-pocus]
HOBO
n. (pl. -es or -s) us wandering worker; tramp. [origin unknown]
HOCK
n. Joint of a quadruped's hind leg between the knee and the fetlock. [old english]
- n. German white wine from the rhineland. [hochheim in germany]
- v. Esp. Us colloq. Pawn; pledge. in hock 1 in pawn.
- in debt.
- in prison. [dutch]
HOHO
int. - representing a deep jolly laugh.
- expressing surprise, triumph, or derision. [reduplication of *ho]
HOLD
—v. (past and past part. Held) 1 a keep fast; grasp (esp. In the hands or arms). B (also refl.) Keep or sustain (a thing, oneself, one's head, etc.) In a particular position. C grip so as to control (hold the reins).
- have the capacity for, contain (holds two pints).
- possess, gain, or have, esp.: a be the owner or tenant of (land, property, stocks, etc.). B gain or have gained (a qualification, record, etc.). C have the position of (a job or office). D keep possession of (a place etc.), esp. Against attack.
- remain unbroken; not give way (roof held under the storm).
- celebrate or conduct (a meeting, festival, conversation, etc.).
- a keep (a person etc.) In a place or condition (held him in suspense). B detain, esp. In custody.
- a engross (book held him for hours). B dominate (held the stage).
- (foll. By to) keep (a person etc.) To (a promise etc.).
- (of weather) continue fine. 10 think, believe; assert (held it to be plain; held that the earth was flat). 11 regard with a specified feeling (held him in contempt). 12 cease; restrain (hold your fire). 13 keep or reserve (please hold our seats). 14 be able to drink (alcohol) without effect (can't hold his drink). 15 (of a court etc.) Lay down; decide. 16 mus. Sustain (a note). 17 = hold the line. —n. - (foll. By on, over) influence or power over (has a strange hold over me).
- manner of holding in wrestling etc.
- grasp (take hold of him).
- (often in comb.) Thing to hold by (seized the handhold). hold (a thing) against (a person) resent or regard it as discreditable to (a person). Hold back 1 impede the progress of; restrain.
- keep for oneself.
- (often foll. By from) hesitate; refrain. Hold one's breath see *breath. Hold down 1 repress.
- colloq. Be competent enough to keep (one's job etc.). Hold the fort 1 act as a temporary substitute.
- cope in an emergency. Hold forth speak at length or tediously. Hold one's ground see *ground1. Hold hands grasp one another by the hand as a sign of affection or for support or guidance. Hold it cease action or movement. Hold the line not ring off (in a telephone connection).
- n. Cavity in the lower part of a ship or aircraft for cargo. [old english: related to *hollow]
HOLE
in the heart n. Colloq. Congenital defect in the heart membrane.
- n. - a empty space in a solid body. B opening in or through something.
- animal's burrow.
- (in games) cavity or receptacle for a ball.
- colloq. Small or dingy place.
- colloq. Awkward situation.
- golf a point scored by a player who gets the ball from tee to hole with the fewest strokes. B terrain or distance from tee to hole. hole up us colloq. Hide oneself. Make a hole in use a large amount of. holey adj. [old english]
