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A Veldt Vendetta
A Veldt Vendetta

Chapter V

Cover illustration for A Veldt Vendetta
Context Illustration Reading 1/80 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.
Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.
Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.
Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.
We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Veldt Vendetta

Chapter V

Reading 1/80 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.
Line 2
Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.
Line 3
Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.
Line 4
Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.
Line 5
We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.”

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.”

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.”

Wounded noun US /wounded/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.”

All words in this reading · 131

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

advantages

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

aloe-fringed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

assegai

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

basin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

bloody

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

brave

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

bush

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

cattle

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

characters

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

conveyed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

crossed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

danger

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

dark

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

death

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

deep

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

denizens

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

densely-wooded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

desperate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

disabled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

dragged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

encounter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

episode

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

evil

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

forbidding

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

former

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

front

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

generally

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

glens

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

gloomy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

golden

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

haunt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

heights

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

held

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

hills

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

idea

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

just

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

kind

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

krantzes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

lain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

light

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

lingering

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

locality

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

lofty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

lurking

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

Many

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

men

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

more

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

narrow

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

network

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

now

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

off

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

out

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

outnumbered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

overhung

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

patrols

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

Peaceful

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

penetrate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

place

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

poort

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

put

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

rather

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

ravines

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

repute

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

rose

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

rugged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

savage

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

scene

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

series

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

shut

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

sides

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

slumbering

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

solitude

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

succession

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

tangled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

then

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

There

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

thick

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

thieves

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even at that time the locality held an evil repute as the haunt of cattle thieves and desperate characters generally.

times

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

torture

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

valleys

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

waning

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

wherein

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading There was nothing in itself gloomy or forbidding in the series of densely-wooded heights which now rose in front of us.

widening

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

wild

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

winding

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.

wooded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We crossed a kind of deep basin shut in on all sides by wooded hills, then through a narrow _poort_ overhung by aloe-fringed krantzes widening out into just such another basin.

wounded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Many a dark episode could those tangled glens have told, of patrols surprised and outnumbered in the thick bush, of brave men struck down by the assegai of the savage, or dragged off, wounded and disabled, to be put to a lingering death of torture.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Peaceful solitude rather than lurking danger was the idea conveyed by that winding succession of deep valleys and lofty hills slumbering in the golden light of the waning afternoon, yet the network of rugged ravines we were about to penetrate had, in former times, been the scene of more than one bloody encounter wherein the advantages had all lain with the wild denizens of the place.