used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For she realized, even before he made a move, that he was impervious to the weapons that had always served her.
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading For she realized, even before he made a move, that he was impervious to the weapons that had always served her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading For she realized, even before he made a move, that he was impervious to the weapons that had always served her.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He stood beyond the frontiers of those impulses and reactions in which she moved and had her being.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He stood beyond the frontiers of those impulses and reactions in which she moved and had her being.
terminate
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
divisible by two
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
frontiersnounUS /frənˈtɪrz/
plural of “frontier” — a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
From this reading He stood beyond the frontiers of those impulses and reactions in which she moved and had her being.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For she realized, even before he made a move, that he was impervious to the weapons that had always served her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For she realized, even before he made a move, that he was impervious to the weapons that had always served her.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The very laws of her world meant nothing to him.
imperviousadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɜːrviəs/
not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
From this reading For she realized, even before he made a move, that he was impervious to the weapons that had always served her.
an instinctive motive
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
impulsesnounUS /ˈɪmpəlsɪz/
plural of “impulse” — an instinctive motive
From this reading He stood beyond the frontiers of those impulses and reactions in which she moved and had her being.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
the first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit
From this reading The very laws of her world meant nothing to him.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading For she realized, even before he made a move, that he was impervious to the weapons that had always served her.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading The very laws of her world meant nothing to him.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading For she realized, even before he made a move, that he was impervious to the weapons that had always served her.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading He stood beyond the frontiers of those impulses and reactions in which she moved and had her being.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The very laws of her world meant nothing to him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
panicnounUS /ˈpænɪk/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
propulsionnounUS /prəˈpʌlʃən/
a propelling force
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
reactionsnounUS /riˈækʃənz/
plural of “reaction” — (chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
From this reading He stood beyond the frontiers of those impulses and reactions in which she moved and had her being.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading For she realized, even before he made a move, that he was impervious to the weapons that had always served her.
inspiring scornful pity
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading For she realized, even before he made a move, that he was impervious to the weapons that had always served her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood beyond the frontiers of those impulses and reactions in which she moved and had her being.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
temptationnounUS /temˈteɪʃən/
something that seduces or has the quality to seduce
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For she realized, even before he made a move, that he was impervious to the weapons that had always served her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He stood beyond the frontiers of those impulses and reactions in which she moved and had her being.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
precisely as stated
From this reading The very laws of her world meant nothing to him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But she did not give way to panic, for to do so was not the custom of her kind.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
weaponsnounUS /ˈwepənz/
plural of “weapon” — any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading For she realized, even before he made a move, that he was impervious to the weapons that had always served her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He stood beyond the frontiers of those impulses and reactions in which she moved and had her being.
window-panes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She fought down her sudden weak impulse to cry out, her equally absurd propulsion to flight, her even more ridiculous temptation to break the window-panes in front of her with her clenched fist and scream for help.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The very laws of her world meant nothing to him.
