used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
absentlyadverb
in an absentminded or preoccupied manner
From this reading She bit the pencil absently, watching him.
anew
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading Perhaps her feminine assurance of her hold on him, more than her courage, kept her nerves fairly steady.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading She bit the pencil absently, watching him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
COUGHverbUS /kɑːf/
exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading Perhaps her feminine assurance of her hold on him, more than her courage, kept her nerves fairly steady.
crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/
affected with madness or insanity
From this reading Still--surely to goodness, Ward would never get crazy enough to hurt her!
dangerouslyadverbUS /ˈdeɪn.dʒər.əs.li/
In a way that involves danger or risk.
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
let fall to the ground
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Perhaps her feminine assurance of her hold on him, more than her courage, kept her nerves fairly steady.
feminineadjectiveUS /ˈfemənən/
associated with women and not with men
From this reading Perhaps her feminine assurance of her hold on him, more than her courage, kept her nerves fairly steady.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Still--surely to goodness, Ward would never get crazy enough to hurt her!
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful
From this reading Still--surely to goodness, Ward would never get crazy enough to hurt her!
grippingadjectiveUS /ˈɡrɪpɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Still--surely to goodness, Ward would never get crazy enough to hurt her!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Perhaps her feminine assurance of her hold on him, more than her courage, kept her nerves fairly steady.
HOOKIN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
be the source of pain
From this reading Still--surely to goodness, Ward would never get crazy enough to hurt her!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Perhaps her feminine assurance of her hold on him, more than her courage, kept her nerves fairly steady.
Louise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Perhaps her feminine assurance of her hold on him, more than her courage, kept her nerves fairly steady.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading Perhaps her feminine assurance of her hold on him, more than her courage, kept her nerves fairly steady.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Still--surely to goodness, Ward would never get crazy enough to hurt her!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Perhaps her feminine assurance of her hold on him, more than her courage, kept her nerves fairly steady.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
pencilnounUS /ˈpensəl/
a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
From this reading She bit the pencil absently, watching him.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps her feminine assurance of her hold on him, more than her courage, kept her nerves fairly steady.
possibilitiesnounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiz/
plural of “possibility” — a future prospect or potential
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
cut with a saw
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
make steady
From this reading Perhaps her feminine assurance of her hold on him, more than her courage, kept her nerves fairly steady.
not in physical motion
From this reading Still--surely to goodness, Ward would never get crazy enough to hurt her!
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Still--surely to goodness, Ward would never get crazy enough to hurt her!
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Perhaps her feminine assurance of her hold on him, more than her courage, kept her nerves fairly steady.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Still--surely to goodness, Ward would never get crazy enough to hurt her!
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
WardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading Still--surely to goodness, Ward would never get crazy enough to hurt her!
Ward'snounUS /wɔːrdz/
possessive form of “ward” — a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading She bit the pencil absently, watching him.
weighingnounUS /ˈweɪɪŋ/
careful consideration
From this reading THE HOOKIN'-COUGH MAN Billy Louise waited another minute or two, weighing the possibilities.
whimnounUS /wɪm/
a sudden desire
From this reading She saw Ward's fingers drop away from the gun, but they remained close enough for a dangerously quick gripping of it again, if the whim seized him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Still--surely to goodness, Ward would never get crazy enough to hurt her!
