used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BY A HAIR’S BREADTH.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
BREADTHnounUS /bredθ/
the capacity to understand a broad range of topics
From this reading BY A HAIR’S BREADTH.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading BY A HAIR’S BREADTH.
carsnounUS /kɑːrz/
plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
an occurrence of something
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Jump for your lives!” he cried out, hoarsely.
traveling across
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading “Jump, every one of you!”
give expression to
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
moving swiftly
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Jump for your lives!” he cried out, hoarsely.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
HAIR'SnounUS /herz/
possessive form of “hair” — 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 BY A HAIR’S BREADTH.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
hoarselyadverb
in a hoarse or husky voice
From this reading “Jump for your lives!” he cried out, hoarsely.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading “Jump for your lives!” he cried out, hoarsely.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “Jump for your lives!” he cried out, hoarsely.
locomotivenounUS /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
oncomingadjectiveUS /ˈɔːnkʌmɪŋ/
moving toward one
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Jump, every one of you!”
and nothing more
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Jump for your lives!” he cried out, hoarsely.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
retainedadjectiveUS /rɪˈteɪnd/
continued in your keeping or use or memory
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
Identical; not different.
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
toboggannounUS /təˈbɑːɡən/
a long narrow sled without runners; boards curve upward in front
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
create by training and teaching
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
which person or people
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He saw at a glance that they and the oncoming express train must reach the crossing at about the same time, and in that case the grim locomotive and heavy cars would deal to them certain death.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Jump, every one of you!”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Jump for your lives!” he cried out, hoarsely.
ZeroadjectiveUS /ˈzɪroʊ/
indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration
From this reading Harry, who half stood up on the end of the flying toboggan, was the only member of the Zero Club who retained his presence of mind.
