Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

with few mistakes

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

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

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

move towards

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

a member of any of a large number of linguistically related peoples of Central and South Africa

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

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

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

serving as an essential component

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading “Now you must come and see my father,” she said.

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading We dismounted—speaking for myself, not without difficulty—indeed, had it not been for Stella’s support I should have fallen.

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

From this reading We dismounted—speaking for myself, not without difficulty—indeed, had it not been for Stella’s support I should have fallen.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading We dismounted—speaking for myself, not without difficulty—indeed, had it not been for Stella’s support I should have fallen.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading “Now you must come and see my father,” she said.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

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

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

plural of “hut” — temporary military shelter

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading We dismounted—speaking for myself, not without difficulty—indeed, had it not been for Stella’s support I should have fallen.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading We dismounted—speaking for myself, not without difficulty—indeed, had it not been for Stella’s support I should have fallen.

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

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

immediately past

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Now you must come and see my father,” she said.

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading We dismounted—speaking for myself, not without difficulty—indeed, had it not been for Stella’s support I should have fallen.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading “Now you must come and see my father,” she said.

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

the human beings of a particular nation or community or ethnic group

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

a raised horizontal surface

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

any competition

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

on the contrary

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Now you must come and see my father,” she said.

a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “Now you must come and see my father,” she said.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “Now you must come and see my father,” she said.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading We dismounted—speaking for myself, not without difficulty—indeed, had it not been for Stella’s support I should have fallen.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading We dismounted—speaking for myself, not without difficulty—indeed, had it not been for Stella’s support I should have fallen.

possessive form of “stella” — United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)

From this reading We dismounted—speaking for myself, not without difficulty—indeed, had it not been for Stella’s support I should have fallen.

the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities

From this reading We dismounted—speaking for myself, not without difficulty—indeed, had it not been for Stella’s support I should have fallen.

closely encircling

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

carry out

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

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

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

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

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

not mixed with extraneous elements

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

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

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

disposed to warfare or hard-line policies

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

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

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading THE MARBLE KRAALS At length the last platform, or terrace, was reached, and we pulled up outside the wall surrounding the central group of marble huts—for so I must call them, for want of a better name.

belonging to which person

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Several of these ran up to take the horses, gazing on us with astonishment, not unmixed with awe.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading We dismounted—speaking for myself, not without difficulty—indeed, had it not been for Stella’s support I should have fallen.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Now you must come and see my father,” she said.

a member of the tall Negroid people of eastern South Africa; some live in KwaZulu-Natal under the traditional clan system but many now work in the cities

From this reading Our approach had been observed by a crowd of natives, whose race I have never been able to determine accurately; they belonged to the Basutu and peaceful section of the Bantu peoples rather than to the Zulu and warlike.