Dictionary

hairbreadth en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈhɛɹˌbɹɛdθ/ (Canada)

Etymology

From hair + breadth.

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of hair's breadth: the width of a hair, a very short distance or a very small amount.
   alt of hair's breadth
   • In short, these kind of hairbreadth missings of happiness look like the insults of Fortune, who may be considered as thus playing tricks with us, and wantonly diverting herself at our expense. 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
   • This surely was a day destined to be signalized by hairbreadth escapes. 1799, Charles Brockden Brown, Edgar Huntly:
   • His hairbreadth escapes from death; […]. 1856, [William] Wilkie Collins, “Gabriel's Marriage”, in After Dark, volume II, London: Smith, Elder & Co., →OCLC, page 107:
   • The hairbreadth survival of the attempted assassination. 2024 July 20, Ross Douthat, “How Trump Sabotaged His Own Apotheosis”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • […] for the young hero rioted by day, howled by night, ravaged the house from top to bottom, and kept his guardians in a series of panics by his hairbreadth escapes. 1876, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, chapter 17, in Rose in Bloom […] :

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