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 This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
advantage
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From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
Africa
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From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
all
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From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
aristocratic-looking
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From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
battleaxe
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From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
beautiful
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From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
breech-loaders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
busily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
care
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From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
chief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
clean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
cleaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
consider
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
delicately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
dignity
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From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading He had a name for each gun.
employed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
favourable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
grounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a name for each gun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had a name for each gun.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
inspected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
mechanism
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had a name for each gun.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
opportunity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
outbuildings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
restingnounUS /ˈresting/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
rifles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
station
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
successful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
thoroughly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
Umslopogaas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
utmost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
veranda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading We then returned to the veranda, where we found Umslopogaas taking advantage of this favourable opportunity to clean all the rifles thoroughly.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After dinner we thoroughly inspected all the outbuildings and grounds of the station, which I consider the most successful as well as the most beautiful place of the sort that I have seen in Africa.
whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading It was a curious sight to see the great Zulu sitting there upon the floor, his battleaxe resting against the wall behind him, whilst his long aristocratic-looking hands were busily employed, delicately and with the utmost care, cleaning the mechanism of the breech-loaders.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
Zulu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only _work_ that he ever did or was asked to do, for as a Zulu chief it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands; but such as it was he did it very well.
