used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Well come away and we’ll have a walk through it.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
AFRICANadjectiveUS /ˈæfrəkən/
of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples
From this reading AN AFRICAN VILLAGE Shall we go round the village now?
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN AFRICAN VILLAGE Shall we go round the village now?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Well come away and we’ll have a walk through it.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Well come away and we’ll have a walk through it.
BabiesnounUS /ˈbeɪbiz/
plural of “baby” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Well come away and we’ll have a walk through it.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
disappearverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/
get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
opinion or judgment
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading AN AFRICAN VILLAGE Shall we go round the village now?
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Well come away and we’ll have a walk through it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Well come away and we’ll have a walk through it.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
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 But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
mitesnounUS /maɪts/
plural of “mite” — a slight but appreciable amount
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
mothersnounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading AN AFRICAN VILLAGE Shall we go round the village now?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
pairsnounUS /perz/
plural of “pair” — a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
peepverbUS /piːp/
look furtively
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
a human being
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading AN AFRICAN VILLAGE Shall we go round the village now?
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
express in words
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading AN AFRICAN VILLAGE Shall we go round the village now?
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
carry out
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN AFRICAN VILLAGE Shall we go round the village now?
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Well come away and we’ll have a walk through it.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
precisely as stated
From this reading Babies on backs will cry if we come near them, and little mites that can run will disappear behind their mothers and peep out at us, feeling safe but very much afraid.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading AN AFRICAN VILLAGE Shall we go round the village now?
villagersnounUS /ˈvɪlɪdʒərz/
plural of “villager” — one who has lived in a village most of their life
From this reading It is not every day that the villagers get such a good look at a white person, and they will take advantage of their chance to-day.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Well come away and we’ll have a walk through it.
warnverbUS /wɔːrn/
notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading AN AFRICAN VILLAGE Shall we go round the village now?
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well come away and we’ll have a walk through it.
(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 Well come away and we’ll have a walk through it.
at the time that
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
a Caucasian
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But as we are strangers and white, I must warn you that many pairs of curious eyes will be watching us when we know not, and all we do and say will be the talk of the village for a long time to come.
