adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/
in the past
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
attacknounUS /əˈtæk/
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
Bekwando
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
blindingadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
boughtverbUS /bɑːt/
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
braverynounUS /ˈbreɪvəri/
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
breathnounUS /breθ/
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
bulletsnounUS /ˈbʊləts/
plural of “bullet” — a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
civilisationnoun
the social process whereby societies achieve an advanced stage of development and organization
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
couchedverbUS /kaʊtʃt/
past form of “couch” — formulate in a particular style or language
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
drinkverbUS /drɪŋk/
take in liquids
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
fiasconounUS /fiˈæskoʊ/
a sudden and violent collapse
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
fightingnounUS /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
flaccidadjectiveUS /ˈflæksɪd/
drooping without elasticity; wanting in stiffness
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
frontiersnounUS /frənˈtɪrz/
plural of “frontier” — a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/
coins made of gold
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
grassverbUS /ɡræs/
shoot down, of birds
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
greedyadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːdi/
immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
hatedadjectiveUS /ˈheɪtəd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
horridadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəd/
exceedingly bad
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/
ten 10s
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
intrudersnounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdərz/
plural of “intruder” — someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
ivorynounUS /ˈaɪvəri/
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
knewverbUS /nuː/
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
Lee-Metford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
looking-glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
metverbUS /met/
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
musclenounUS /ˈmʌsəl/
one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
Oom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
rumnounUS /rʌm/
liquor distilled from fermented molasses
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
rushedadjectiveUS /rʌʃt/
done under pressure
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
SamnounUS /sæm/
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
savageadjectiveUS /ˈsævədʒ/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
spearsnounUS /spɪrz/
plural of “spear” — a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
strongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
subtleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌtəl/
difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
tennounUS /ten/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
vanishedadjectiveUS /ˈvænɪʃt/
having passed out of existence
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
virtuenounUS /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
watersnounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
winenounUS /waɪn/
fermented juice (of grapes especially)
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
yellnounUS /jel/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
