Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
hairsbreadth. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
hairsbreadth, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
hairsbreadth in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
hairsbreadth you have here. The definition of the word
hairsbreadth will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
hairsbreadth, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From hair + -s- + breadth.
Pronunciation
Noun
hairsbreadth (plural hairsbreadths)
- Alternative form of hair's breadth: a very short distance or a very small amount (as is the width of a hair).
c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 54, column 1:[...] I ſee you are obſequious in your loue, and I profeſſe requitall to a haires bredth, [...]
1855 December – 1857 June, Charles Dickens, “The Word of a Gentleman”, in Little Dorrit, London: Bradbury and Evans, , published 1857, →OCLC, book the first (Poverty), page 265:t was characteristic of this man, as it is of all men similarly marked, that whatever he did, he overdid, though it were sometimes by only a hair's-breadth [...]
1919, John Buchan, Mr. Standfast:We've missed our shot by a hairsbreadth and that's the same as missing by miles.
- 2010 March, Neil McDonald, Quadrant, Quadrant Magazine Limited, volume LIV, number 3 (number 464 overall), page 100:
- In Avatar the spectacular rides to the rescue and hairsbreadth escapes have the whole film behind them and because of that are dramatically and emotionally satisfying.
Anagrams