x-word

The word xenophobia.

The “X word[”] / Although the conference extensively referred to the nation’s need for “social cohesion” among migrants and South Africans, the word “xenophobia” was almost never uttered during the two-day affair.

Before one uses the X-word to describe people with less-liberal views on immigration, one should recall its meaning – an extreme or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries.

Abbreviation of crossword.

After Dieter got up from solving his Stern-Xword puzzle―I was hanging over his shoulders ... in order to fill some ... spaces in the crossword puzzle[.]

So while this week's column may be a bit tedious, it may also lay the basis for a vital part of x-word preparation (prep).

One of a group of fundamental English auxiliary or modal verb forms.

To change a statement into a question that can be answered “yes” or “no,” one must place an X-word (one of twenty-three auxiliaries or modals) at the beginning of the sentence.

The only five x-words that offer any choice of verb form are am, is, are, was and were, and this very limited choice represents the important difference between active and passive voice, for example is eating versus is eaten.