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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
abrupt
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From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
abruptly
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From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
advance
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From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
air
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From this reading The air grew clear and sharp, and the nights had become downright chilly.
all
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From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
approaching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
AroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
become
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From this reading The air grew clear and sharp, and the nights had become downright chilly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
bushy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
carefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
casual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
unpleasantly cold
From this reading The air grew clear and sharp, and the nights had become downright chilly.
clear
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From this reading The air grew clear and sharp, and the nights had become downright chilly.
clefts
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From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
cliffs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
contained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
downright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The air grew clear and sharp, and the nights had become downright chilly.
duly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
easily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
event
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The air grew clear and sharp, and the nights had become downright chilly.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
kraals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
mile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
mountainous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
nightsnounUS /naɪts/
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading The air grew clear and sharp, and the nights had become downright chilly.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
regions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
reported
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The air grew clear and sharp, and the nights had become downright chilly.
slopes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
smooth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
sweep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
teeming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
terraces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
tiers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
tracknounUS /træk/
a route or signs showing the way someone went
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
uninhabited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
unsuspected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around, the hills rose in abrupt slopes, their sweep broken up into great terraces as it were, by tiers of smooth grey cliffs.
valleys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
waggons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
wayfarer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were approaching the mountainous regions of the north, and the bushy valleys and slopes of the lower country had been left behind.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading To all appearance the country might have been uninhabited, but I knew better: knew that the great clefts which fell abruptly from the track contained teeming kraals, whose presence might easily remain unsuspected by the casual wayfarer: knew, too, that not a mile of our advance but was carefully watched and duly reported.
Zululand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Zululand of those days the passage of a white man's waggons was an event, and that from more than one point of view.
