used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
acted upon; influenced
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
(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 Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
Bee'snounUS /biːz/
possessive form of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
burnsnounUS /bɜːrnz/
United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
doctorsnounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
plural of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
HADauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading IF ONLY SHE HAD—!
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading IF ONLY SHE HAD—!
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
and nothing more
From this reading IF ONLY SHE HAD—!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
Patricia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
promptitudenoun
the characteristic of doing things without delay
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
done under pressure
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
express in words
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
scorchedadjectiveUS /skɔːrtʃt/
Burned by flames or heat; blackened by intense magical or physical fire.
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IF ONLY SHE HAD—!
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
a state of acute pain
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THROUGH the next two or three weeks Patricia's life hung on a thread.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Bee's promptitude had indeed saved her from death; but shoulders and back, arms, and hands, were badly scorched, and all her pretty hair was gone.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For the greater part her burns were not deep, but the extent of surface affected made them serious; and she was suffering from shock to a degree which meant pressing danger.
but in spite of that
From this reading As she rushed from one room to the other the flames were driven back; yet her face had felt their touch, though to what extent the doctors did not say.
