The doctor explained to Jenkins that he had a serious ailment for which an operation was absolutely imperative.
The patient turned pale and asked, "Isn’t it very dangerous?"
"Yes," the doctor replied. "Five out of six who undergo this operation die, but as for you, you have nothing to worry about."
"Why not?" eagerly inquired the patient.
"Well, you’re sure to recover because my last five patients died," the doctor reassured him.
- coat n. (also sports jacket) man's informal jacket.
- ground n. Piece of land used for sports.
SPORTY
adj. (-ier, -iest) colloq. - fond of sport.
- rakish, showy. sportily adv. Sportiness n.
SPOTTY
adj. (-ier, -iest) 1 marked with spots.
- patchy, irregular. spottiness n.
SPOUSE
n. Husband or wife. [latin sponsus sponsa betrothed]
SPRAIN
—v. Wrench (an ankle, wrist, etc.), causing pain or swelling. —n. Such a wrench. [origin unknown]
SPRANG
past of *spring.
SPRAWL
—v. - a sit, lie, or fall with limbs flung out untidily. B spread (one's limbs) thus.
- (of writing, a plant, a town, etc.) Be irregular or straggling. —n. - sprawling movement, position, or mass.
- straggling urban expansion. [old english]
SPREAD
eagle —n. Figure of an eagle with legs and wings extended as an emblem. —v. (spread-eagle) 1 (usu. As spread-eagled adj.) Place (a person) with arms and legs spread out.
- defeat utterly.
- —v. (past and past part. Spread) 1 (often foll. By out) a open, extend, or unfold. B cause to cover a surface or larger area. C display thus.
- (often foll. By out) have a wide, specified, or increasing extent.
- become or make widely known, felt, etc. (rumours are spreading).
- a cover (spread the wall with paint). B lay (a table). —n. - act of spreading.
- capability or extent of spreading (has a large spread).
- diffusion (spread of learning).
- breadth.
- increased girth (middle-aged spread).
- difference between two rates, prices, etc.
- colloq. Elaborate meal.
- paste for spreading on bread etc.
- bedspread. 10 printed matter spread across more than one column. spread oneself be lavish or discursive. Spread one's wings develop one's powers fully. [old english]
SPRING
balance n. Balance that measures weight by the tension of a spring.
- chicken n. - young fowl for eating.
- youthful person.
- equinox n. (also vernal equinox) equinox about 20 march.
- fever n. Restlessness or lethargy associated with spring.
- greens n.pl. Young cabbage leaves.
- onion n. Young onion eaten raw.
- roll n. Chinese fried pancake filled with vegetables.
- tide n. Tide just after the new and the full moon when there is the greatest difference between high and low water.
- —v. (past sprang; past part. Sprung) 1 rise rapidly or suddenly, leap, jump.
- move rapidly by or as by the action of a spring.
- (usu. Foll. By from) originate (from ancestors, a source, etc.).
- act or appear suddenly or unexpectedly (a breeze sprang up; spring to mind; spring to life).
- (often foll. By on) present (a thing or circumstance etc.) Suddenly or unexpectedly (sprang it on me).
- slang contrive the escape of (a person from prison etc.).
- rouse (game) from a covert etc.
- (usu. As sprung adj.) Provide (a mattress etc.) With springs. —n. - jump, leap.
- recoil.
- elasticity.
- elastic device, usu. Of coiled metal, used esp. To drive clockwork or for cushioning in furniture or vehicles.
- a (often attrib.) The first season of the year, in which new vegetation begins to appear. B (often foll. By of) early stage of life etc.
- place where water, oil, etc., wells up from the earth; basin or flow so formed.
- motive for or origin of an action, custom, etc. spring a leak develop a leak. Spring up come into being, appear. springlike adj. [old english]
SPRINT
—v. - run a short distance at full speed.
- run (a specified distance) thus. —n. - such a run.
- short burst in cycling, swimming, etc. sprinter n. [old norse]
