used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The long reach of the thumb and the span of the thumb and the fingers assailed her, and the hand fiddled a moment on the air.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The long reach of the thumb and the span of the thumb and the fingers assailed her, and the hand fiddled a moment on the air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
assailedverbUS /əˈseɪld/
past form of “assail” — attack someone physically or emotionally
From this reading The long reach of the thumb and the span of the thumb and the fingers assailed her, and the hand fiddled a moment on the air.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
From this reading Then it crumpled together, bones and muscles flexed, and withdrew to the shadow under his knee.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
crumpledadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌmpəld/
of metal e.g.
From this reading Then it crumpled together, bones and muscles flexed, and withdrew to the shadow under his knee.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
fiddledverbUS /ˈfɪdəld/
past form of “fiddle” — avoid (one's assigned duties)
From this reading The long reach of the thumb and the span of the thumb and the fingers assailed her, and the hand fiddled a moment on the air.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading The long reach of the thumb and the span of the thumb and the fingers assailed her, and the hand fiddled a moment on the air.
flexedverbUS /flekst/
past form of “flex” — contract
From this reading Then it crumpled together, bones and muscles flexed, and withdrew to the shadow under his knee.
flexibleadjectiveUS /ˈfleksəbəl/
capable of being changed
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading “Hold out your hands, Stig,” she said, “hold out your hand.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading “Hold out your hands, Stig,” she said, “hold out your hand.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “Hold out your hands, Stig,” she said, “hold out your hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Then it crumpled together, bones and muscles flexed, and withdrew to the shadow under his knee.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The long reach of the thumb and the span of the thumb and the fingers assailed her, and the hand fiddled a moment on the air.
a particular point in time
From this reading The long reach of the thumb and the span of the thumb and the fingers assailed her, and the hand fiddled a moment on the air.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading Then it crumpled together, bones and muscles flexed, and withdrew to the shadow under his knee.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The long reach of the thumb and the span of the thumb and the fingers assailed her, and the hand fiddled a moment on the air.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Hold out your hands, Stig,” she said, “hold out your hand.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The long reach of the thumb and the span of the thumb and the fingers assailed her, and the hand fiddled a moment on the air.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Hold out your hands, Stig,” she said, “hold out your hand.
sensitiveadjectiveUS /ˈsensətɪv/
responsive to physical stimuli
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Then it crumpled together, bones and muscles flexed, and withdrew to the shadow under his knee.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Hold out your hands, Stig,” she said, “hold out your hand.
spannounUS /spæn/
the complete duration of something
From this reading The long reach of the thumb and the span of the thumb and the fingers assailed her, and the hand fiddled a moment on the air.
Stig
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Hold out your hands, Stig,” she said, “hold out your hand.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then it crumpled together, bones and muscles flexed, and withdrew to the shadow under his knee.
thumbnounUS /θʌm/
the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
From this reading The long reach of the thumb and the span of the thumb and the fingers assailed her, and the hand fiddled a moment on the air.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Then it crumpled together, bones and muscles flexed, and withdrew to the shadow under his knee.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Then it crumpled together, bones and muscles flexed, and withdrew to the shadow under his knee.
directed up
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His hand, broad in the palm, flexible, sensitive to the boards of the floor, was stretched, palm downward, beyond his foot, or it crept over the floor; it turned upward and moved back and forth before her.
withdrewverbUS /wɪθˈdruː/
inflected form of “withdraw” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading Then it crumpled together, bones and muscles flexed, and withdrew to the shadow under his knee.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Hold out your hands, Stig,” she said, “hold out your hand.
