used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a fortnight he had been wavering to and fro.
anew
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For a fortnight he had been wavering to and fro.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For a fortnight he had been wavering to and fro.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
Consul's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no hope of the young Consul's recovery.
Cordsen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
firmeradjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrmər/
comparative of “firm” — marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a fortnight he had been wavering to and fro.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading For a fortnight he had been wavering to and fro.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a fortnight he had been wavering to and fro.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For a fortnight he had been wavering to and fro.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a fortnight he had been wavering to and fro.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading There was no hope of the young Consul's recovery.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The old lady remained for a few minutes in the sick-room, and then went upstairs.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The old lady remained for a few minutes in the sick-room, and then went upstairs.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
lingerverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡər/
remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The old lady remained for a few minutes in the sick-room, and then went upstairs.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
not any; not one
From this reading There was no hope of the young Consul's recovery.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was no hope of the young Consul's recovery.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old lady remained for a few minutes in the sick-room, and then went upstairs.
paralysisnounUS /pərˈæləsəs/
loss of the ability to move a body part
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
by chance
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
prevailverbUS /prɪˈveɪl/
be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
recoverynounUS /rɪˈkʌvri/
return to an original state
From this reading There was no hope of the young Consul's recovery.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The old lady remained for a few minutes in the sick-room, and then went upstairs.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
precisely, exactly
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
express in words
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
sick-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old lady remained for a few minutes in the sick-room, and then went upstairs.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was no hope of the young Consul's recovery.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no hope of the young Consul's recovery.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Miss Cordsen heard the doctor say to Richard, "He may perhaps linger for a few hours, but he cannot live through the night."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a fortnight he had been wavering to and fro.
the topmost one of two
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
on a floor above
From this reading The old lady remained for a few minutes in the sick-room, and then went upstairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no hope of the young Consul's recovery.
waveringnounUS /ˈweɪvərɪŋ/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading For a fortnight he had been wavering to and fro.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The old lady remained for a few minutes in the sick-room, and then went upstairs.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Sometimes it appeared as if the right side would prevail, but then the left got the upper hand again; and each time the paralysis seemed to get a firmer hold.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading There was no hope of the young Consul's recovery.
