alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading We started on along the stream, following the spoor of the baboons as we best could.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I echoed the oath, and, as shall be seen, we kept it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
baboonnounUS /bəˈbuːn/
large terrestrial monkeys having doglike muzzles
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
baboonsnounUS /bæˈbuːnz/
plural of “baboon” — large terrestrial monkeys having doglike muzzles
From this reading We started on along the stream, following the spoor of the baboons as we best could.
Babyan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
banksnounUS /bæŋks/
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading But the stream left no spoor, and the hard, rocky banks very little.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I echoed the oath, and, as shall be seen, we kept it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading We started on along the stream, following the spoor of the baboons as we best could.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the stream left no spoor, and the hard, rocky banks very little.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading We started on along the stream, following the spoor of the baboons as we best could.
diedverbUS /daɪd/
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
dogsnounUS /dɑːɡz/
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading I echoed the oath, and, as shall be seen, we kept it.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
exterminatedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɜːrməneɪtɪd/
destroyed completely
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading We started on along the stream, following the spoor of the baboons as we best could.
fragmentsnounUS /ˈfræɡmənts/
plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
gainedverbUS /ɡeɪnd/
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading But the stream left no spoor, and the hard, rocky banks very little.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
INDABA-ZIMBI
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I echoed the oath, and, as shall be seen, we kept it.
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading I echoed the oath, and, as shall be seen, we kept it.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading But the stream left no spoor, and the hard, rocky banks very little.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But the stream left no spoor, and the hard, rocky banks very little.
livedverbUS /lɪvd/
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
MAGICnounUS /ˈmædʒɪk/
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
marksnounUS /mɑːrks/
English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
nativesnounUS /ˈneɪtɪvz/
plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But the stream left no spoor, and the hard, rocky banks very little.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
oathnounUS /oʊθ/
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading I echoed the oath, and, as shall be seen, we kept it.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
PeaknounUS /piːk/
the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
restverbUS /rest/
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading But the stream left no spoor, and the hard, rocky banks very little.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I echoed the oath, and, as shall be seen, we kept it.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading I echoed the oath, and, as shall be seen, we kept it.
spoornounUS /spʊr/
the trail left by a person or an animal; what the hunter follows in pursuing game
From this reading We started on along the stream, following the spoor of the baboons as we best could.
spotnounUS /spɑːt/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
StarnounUS /stɑːr/
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading We started on along the stream, following the spoor of the baboons as we best could.
StellanounUS /ˈstelə/
United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
streamnounUS /striːm/
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
swearingnounUS /ˈswerɪŋ/
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
tornadjectiveUS /tɔːrn/
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading But the stream left no spoor, and the hard, rocky banks very little.
violencenounUS /ˈvaɪələns/
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading THE MAGIC OF INDABA-ZIMBI We gained the spot by the stream where Stella had been taken.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The natives looked at the torn fragments of the dogs, and at the marks of violence, and I heard them swearing to each other, that whether the Star lived or died they would not rest till they had exterminated every baboon on Babyan’s Peak.
