used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once a sudden lurch of the bus almost threw her off her feet.
at or in the front
From this reading Clutching the back of a seat, she regained her balance and staggered ahead.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Once a sudden lurch of the bus almost threw her off her feet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Clutching the back of a seat, she regained her balance and staggered ahead.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At least she would be near the door, she decided, when--if--something happened.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Clutching the back of a seat, she regained her balance and staggered ahead.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading Clutching the back of a seat, she regained her balance and staggered ahead.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At least she would be near the door, she decided, when--if--something happened.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Clutching the seat handles, she began stumbling toward the front of the bus.
busnounUS /bʌs/
a vehicle carrying many passengers; used for public transport
From this reading Clutching the seat handles, she began stumbling toward the front of the bus.
ClutchingverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Clutching the seat handles, she began stumbling toward the front of the bus.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could no longer force back the panic which was welling within her.
recognizable; marked
From this reading At least she would be near the door, she decided, when--if--something happened.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading At least she would be near the door, she decided, when--if--something happened.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Once a sudden lurch of the bus almost threw her off her feet.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading She could no longer force back the panic which was welling within her.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Clutching the seat handles, she began stumbling toward the front of the bus.
handlesnounUS /ˈhændəlz/
plural of “handle” — the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it
From this reading Clutching the seat handles, she began stumbling toward the front of the bus.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading At least she would be near the door, she decided, when--if--something happened.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Once a sudden lurch of the bus almost threw her off her feet.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At least she would be near the door, she decided, when--if--something happened.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading At least she would be near the door, she decided, when--if--something happened.
for more time
From this reading She could no longer force back the panic which was welling within her.
lurchverbUS /lɜːrtʃ/
walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading Once a sudden lurch of the bus almost threw her off her feet.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading At least she would be near the door, she decided, when--if--something happened.
not any; not one
From this reading She could no longer force back the panic which was welling within her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Clutching the seat handles, she began stumbling toward the front of the bus.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Once a sudden lurch of the bus almost threw her off her feet.
on one occasion
From this reading Once a sudden lurch of the bus almost threw her off her feet.
panicnounUS /ˈpænɪk/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading She could no longer force back the panic which was welling within her.
regainedverbUS /riˈɡeɪnd/
past form of “regain” — get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading Clutching the back of a seat, she regained her balance and staggered ahead.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading Clutching the seat handles, she began stumbling toward the front of the bus.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Clutching the seat handles, she began stumbling toward the front of the bus.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading At least she would be near the door, she decided, when--if--something happened.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading Clutching the back of a seat, she regained her balance and staggered ahead.
stumblingverbUS /ˈstʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading Clutching the seat handles, she began stumbling toward the front of the bus.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Once a sudden lurch of the bus almost threw her off her feet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Clutching the seat handles, she began stumbling toward the front of the bus.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Once a sudden lurch of the bus almost threw her off her feet.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Clutching the seat handles, she began stumbling toward the front of the bus.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She could no longer force back the panic which was welling within her.
wellingverbUS /ˈwelɪŋ/
-ing form of “well” — come up, as of a liquid
From this reading She could no longer force back the panic which was welling within her.
at the time that
From this reading At least she would be near the door, she decided, when--if--something happened.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She could no longer force back the panic which was welling within her.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading She could no longer force back the panic which was welling within her.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading At least she would be near the door, she decided, when--if--something happened.
