used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour before she had rung for me, and I was not to be found.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
have
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
earlier than; in front of
From this reading An hour before she had rung for me, and I was not to be found.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/
comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading An hour before she had rung for me, and I was not to be found.
set up or found
From this reading An hour before she had rung for me, and I was not to be found.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
heart-breaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
where you live at a particular time
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An hour before she had rung for me, and I was not to be found.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
luckilyadverbUS /ˈlʌkəli/
by good fortune
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading An hour before she had rung for me, and I was not to be found.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
used to form the superlative
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading An hour before she had rung for me, and I was not to be found.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
many times at short intervals
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
rungnounUS /rʌŋ/
a crosspiece between the legs of a chair
From this reading An hour before she had rung for me, and I was not to be found.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
express in words
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An hour before she had rung for me, and I was not to be found.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
in the near future
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
terriblyadverbUS /ˈterəbli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
in or at that place or location
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An hour before she had rung for me, and I was not to be found.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
at the time that
From this reading When I reached home there was a running and a calling--something had happened.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "She was taken in a dreadful way; but luckily what was most needed was ready at hand; for the doctor----" "He is close behind me," I said, and hurried into the room, from which came the most heart-breaking cries.
which person or people
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It is often desperately dark in this world; who can say: "It cannot be darker now?"
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Courage, dearest friend, courage," said the doctor an hour or two later: "it is a little too soon, and--but there are often worse cases, I think--but stay here a few minutes and breathe a little fresh air; you are terribly excited; you cannot bear it."
