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Hornbook for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'hɔrn,bʊk

What does Hornbook really mean?

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Hey there! I'm here to help you understand what the word "hornbook" means. So, imagine this - have you ever seen those old-fashioned wooden tablets that people used to write on long ago, way before we had paper or computers? Well, a hornbook is like a fancy version of those tablets! It's a super basic learning tool that kids used in the past to practice reading and writing.

Now, let me explain it in a bit more detail for you. A hornbook is a small and portable educational tool that consists of a wooden paddle, kind of like what you might use to play ping pong, with a piece of parchment or paper attached to it. The parchment or paper usually had the alphabet, numbers, and maybe some simple prayers or lessons on it.

Now, here's a fun metaphor to help you picture it better: think of a hornbook as a little helper that fits right into your palm, guiding you on your journey to learning. Just like you have a teacher who explains things to you, the parchment or paper on the hornbook is like a mini-teacher, showing you the basics of reading and writing!

But hey, there's one more thing! The word "hornbook" can also have a second definition. It can also refer to any basic and fundamental piece of information or knowledge. So, just like a hornbook was the starting point for learning back in the day, when you hear the word used in a different context, it means something that forms the foundation of a subject or a field.

So, in a nutshell, "hornbook" can mean a wooden paddle with a piece of paper on it that was used for basic education in the old days. And it can also mean any fundamental piece of knowledge in a particular subject. Got it?


Revised and Fact checked by Daniel Taylor on 2023-10-29 09:46:10

Hornbook In a sentece

Learn how to use Hornbook inside a sentece

  • A hornbook is a small wooden board with a handle that children used long ago to learn the alphabet and basic words by looking at letters and words painted on it.
  • Imagine using a hornbook to practice spelling words like cat, dog, and sun. The hornbook had all these words painted on it, so it helped children remember how to read and write.
  • Long ago, when there were no computers or tablets, children used hornbooks to learn. They would hold the hornbook in their hand and trace their finger over the letters to learn how to write.
  • If you were a child in the olden days, you would carry a hornbook with you to school as it was your special learning tool to help you read, write, and learn new words.
  • Think of a hornbook as your portable teacher. It was like having a small book in your hand to help you learn, just like we use textbooks in school today.

Hornbook Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.