adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
acidadjectiveUS /ˈæsəd/
harsh or corrosive in tone
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
AMBUSHverbUS /ˈæmbʊʃ/
wait in hiding to attack
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
badadjectiveUS /bæd/
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
banksnounUS /bæŋks/
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
birdsnounUS /bɜːrdz/
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
boreverbUS /bɔːr/
cause to be bored
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/
the lower side of anything
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
bushnounUS /bʊʃ/
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
cattlenounUS /ˈkætəl/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
datenounUS /deɪt/
the specified day of the month
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
deepadjectiveUS /diːp/
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
downhilladjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnˈhɪl/
sloping down rather steeply
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
flatadjectiveUS /flæt/
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
greennounUS /ɡriːn/
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
guinea-fowl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
hugeadjectiveUS /hjuːdʒ/
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I remember the place well.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
leavesnounUS /liːvz/
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
mimosanounUS /mɪˈmoʊsə/
evergreen Australasian tree having white or silvery bark and young leaves and yellow flowers
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading I remember the place well.
plumadverbUS /plʌm/
exactly
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading I remember the place well.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
scrubverbUS /skrʌb/
clean with hard rubbing
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
seasonnounUS /ˈsiːzən/
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
silver-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
sixnounUS /sɪks/
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
sizenounUS /saɪz/
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
sparselyadverbUS /ˈspɑːrsli/
in a sparse way
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
stonenounUS /stoʊn/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
tasteverbUS /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
thornsnounUS /θɔːrnz/
plural of “thorn” — something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
tracknounUS /træk/
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
treesnounUS /triːz/
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
treknounUS /trek/
a journey by ox wagon (especially an organized migration by a group of settlers)
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading I remember the place well.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Some were mimosa thorns, others had deep green leaves and bore a kind of plum with an acid taste and a huge stone, and others silver-coloured leaves in their season.
woodlandnounUS /ˈwʊdlænd/
land that is covered with trees and shrubs
From this reading It was a kind of spreading woodland on a flat bottom, where trees of no great size grew sparsely.
woundnounUS /waʊnd/
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading A river, too, low at this time of the year, wound through it, and in the scrub upon its banks were many guinea-fowl and other birds.
Zululand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMBUSH We had reached the bush after six hours’ downhill trek over a pretty bad track made by cattle—of course, there were no roads in Zululand at this date.
