used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
challengedverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒd/
past form of “challenge” — take exception to
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
combatnounUS /ˈkɑːmbæt/
an engagement fought between two military forces
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Martha did not quail.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I s’pose you don’t like the idea of a trained nurse?
opinion or judgment
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
fiercelyadverbUS /ˈfɪrsli/
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
a long fixed look
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I s’pose you don’t like the idea of a trained nurse?
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "I s’pose you don’t like the idea of a trained nurse?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
insolencenounUS /ˈɪnsələns/
the trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "I s’pose you don’t like the idea of a trained nurse?
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martha did not quail.
measuredadjectiveUS /ˈmeʒərd/
having notes of fixed rhythmic value
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
subject to death
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Martha did not quail.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading "I s’pose you don’t like the idea of a trained nurse?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
quailverbUS /kweɪl/
draw back, as with fear or pain
From this reading Martha did not quail.
s'pose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I s’pose you don’t like the idea of a trained nurse?
Sammy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
Slawson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading "I s’pose you don’t like the idea of a trained nurse?
unflinchingadjectiveUS /ənˈflɪntʃɪŋ/
not shrinking from danger
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The little body on the bed might be half dead, but the great eyes were fiercely alive.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They measured Mrs. Sammy Slawson from head to foot, with a stare of icy insolence.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading She met the stare with a perfectly unflinching gaze, then went on talking as she worked, as calmly as if she were not being challenged in mortal combat.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I s’pose you don’t like the idea of a trained nurse?
