Chapter XIV · A Life in the Balance

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

quick to understand

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation

From this reading Four hours had passed and still he had not regained consciousness.

(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time

From this reading The doctor was standing, silently gazing down into the darkened street.

a state in which all hope is lost or absent

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading The doctor was standing, silently gazing down into the darkened street.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The doctor was standing, silently gazing down into the darkened street.

free from tears

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

in a faithful manner

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading Four hours had passed and still he had not regained consciousness.

-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading The doctor was standing, silently gazing down into the darkened street.

intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Four hours had passed and still he had not regained consciousness.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The doctor was standing, silently gazing down into the darkened street.

with respect to private feelings

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Four hours had passed and still he had not regained consciousness.

try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Four hours had passed and still he had not regained consciousness.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

past form of “regain” — get or find back; recover the use of

From this reading Four hours had passed and still he had not regained consciousness.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

without speaking

From this reading The doctor was standing, silently gazing down into the darkened street.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

having a supporting base

From this reading The doctor was standing, silently gazing down into the darkened street.

not in physical motion

From this reading Four hours had passed and still he had not regained consciousness.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading The doctor was standing, silently gazing down into the darkened street.

express in words

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The House of Martin during the next few hours was the scene of much anxiety and despair.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

during the time that

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

a Caucasian

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Mrs. Martin, sitting faithfully by her husband’s side, dry-eyed, seemed shaken with grief inwardly and her white face looked haunted with lost hope.

the least favorable outcome

From this reading A white-capped nurse was passing in and out of the sick-room, while Westy and his sister sat on the stairway, apprehensive each time that she had come to tell them the worst.