used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Nothing happened until afternoon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
anæsthetic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
anæsthetized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
without doubt or question
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
definedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfaɪnd/
clearly characterized or delimited
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
delicacynounUS /ˈdeləkəsi/
the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
distastenounUS /dɪˈsteɪst/
a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
having the place or position changed
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
doctor'snounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
forcepsnounUS /ˈfɔːrseps/
an extractor consisting of a pair of pincers used in medical treatment (especially for the delivery of babies)
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
fragileadjectiveUS /ˈfrædʒəl/
easily broken or damaged or destroyed
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
frozeverbUS /froʊz/
inflected form of “freeze” — stop moving or become immobilized
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Nothing happened until afternoon.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/
relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing happened until afternoon.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
probeverbUS /proʊb/
question or examine thoroughly and closely
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
refinedadjectiveUS /rəˈfaɪnd/
(used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
scalpelnounUS /ˈskælpəl/
a thin straight surgical knife used in dissection and surgery
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
splintersnounUS /ˈsplɪntərz/
wood in small pieces or splinters
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
thighsnounUS /θaɪz/
plural of “thigh” — the part of the leg between the hip and the knee
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
tissuenounUS /ˈtɪsjuː/
part of an organism consisting of an aggregate of cells having a similar structure and function
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Nothing happened until afternoon.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He used a local anæsthetic called something or other “snow,” which froze the tissue and avoided pain until the probe, the scalpel or the forceps got below the frozen portion.
which person or people
From this reading The doctor was a thin quiet little man who seemed disturbed by the war.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He took out a number of small steel splinters from my thighs with delicate and refined distaste.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
X-raynounUS /ˈeksreɪ/
electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength produced when high-speed electrons strike a solid target
From this reading The anæsthetized area was clearly defined by the patient and after a time the doctor’s fragile delicacy was exhausted and he said it would be better to have an X-ray.
