used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn.
AfricanounUS /ˈæfrəkɑː/
the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean
From this reading The setting is South Africa, during the Boer war.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
at or in or to any place
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Just before they finally arrive they are both severely wounded, and are unconscious for a fortnight.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Just before they finally arrive they are both severely wounded, and are unconscious for a fortnight.
blood-stained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
BoernounUS /bɔːr/
a white native of Cape Province who is a descendant of Dutch settlers and who speaks Afrikaans
From this reading The setting is South Africa, during the Boer war.
Boer-occupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Just before they finally arrive they are both severely wounded, and are unconscious for a fortnight.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
DashverbUS /dæʃ/
run or move very quickly or hastily
From this reading A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn.
despatches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
DiamondnounUS /ˈdaɪmənd/
a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The setting is South Africa, during the Boer war.
Fenn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn.
filthyadjectiveUS /ˈfɪlθi/
disgustingly dirty; filled or smeared with offensive matter
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Just before they finally arrive they are both severely wounded, and are unconscious for a fortnight.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Just before they finally arrive they are both severely wounded, and are unconscious for a fortnight.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading Just before they finally arrive they are both severely wounded, and are unconscious for a fortnight.
set up or found
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
of great significance or value
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The setting is South Africa, during the Boer war.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
jacketnounUS /ˈdʒækət/
a short coat
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
and nothing more
From this reading Just before they finally arrive they are both severely wounded, and are unconscious for a fortnight.
KimberleynounUS /ˈkɪmbərli/
city in central South Africa; center for diamond mining and diamond marketing
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
LuckilyadverbUS /ˈlʌkəli/
by good fortune
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
Mafeking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
Manville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
the force of workers available
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
mishapsnounUS /ˈmɪshæps/
plural of “mishap” — an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading The setting is South Africa, during the Boer war.
severelyadverbUS /səˈvɪrli/
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading Just before they finally arrive they are both severely wounded, and are unconscious for a fortnight.
sewnadjectiveUS /soʊn/
fastened with stitches
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The setting is South Africa, during the Boer war.
not in physical motion
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The setting is South Africa, during the Boer war.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
the act of going from one place to another
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading Just before they finally arrive they are both severely wounded, and are unconscious for a fortnight.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading The setting is South Africa, during the Boer war.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Luckily the despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't at first anywhere to be found.
people who are wounded
From this reading Just before they finally arrive they are both severely wounded, and are unconscious for a fortnight.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Two young men are sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps.
