used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
from appearances alone
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
assistverbUS /əˈsɪst/
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
the lower side of anything
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
descendverbUS /dɪˈsend/
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
at any time
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
favorablyadverbUS /ˈfeɪvərəbli/
showing approval
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
gangwaynoun
a temporary passageway of planks (as over mud on a building site)
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
invalidnounUS /ˈɪnvələd/
someone who is incapacitated by a chronic illness or injury
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
staying power
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
engage in
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
a particular point in time
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
OnsetnounUS /ˈɑːnset/
the beginning or early stages
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
progressedverbUS /prəˈɡrest/
past form of “progress” — develop in a positive way
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “All right, sir!
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
term of address for a man
From this reading “All right, sir!
state-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
supportingadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪŋ/
furnishing support and encouragement
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
in or at that place or location
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
treatmentnounUS /ˈtriːtmənt/
care provided to improve a situation (especially medical procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury)
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
trionounUS /ˈtriːoʊ/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Onset appeared more helpless than usual when, the Doctor supporting his shoulders and James his feet, the trio began to descend.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading If ever a subject for treatment had weak legs, it was Onset at that moment.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All progressed favorably until they reached the bottom, and were about to make the turn into the state-room passage; “Look out for that awkward corner, James.”
at the time that
From this reading When James reached the head of the gangway, there stood the Doctor, apparently by accident; and of course he offered to assist in carrying the invalid down the steps.
