used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He guessed each side to be about two hundred yards in length.
advance-guard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
AlinounUS /ˈɑːli/
United States prizefighter who won the world heavyweight championship three times (born in 1942)
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At that distance, it looked like a solid square of grass huts and tents, surrounded by a high wall.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
beehives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
inflected form of “behold” — see with attention
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
Bertram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
boma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading It stood in a clearing which gave a field of fire of some three hundred yards in every direction.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading It stood in a clearing which gave a field of fire of some three hundred yards in every direction.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading At that distance, it looked like a solid square of grass huts and tents, surrounded by a high wall.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading He guessed each side to be about two hundred yards in length.
entrenchedadjectiveUS /enˈtrentʃt/
dug in
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It stood in a clearing which gave a field of fire of some three hundred yards in every direction.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading It stood in a clearing which gave a field of fire of some three hundred yards in every direction.
fileverbUS /faɪl/
record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
start firing a weapon
From this reading It stood in a clearing which gave a field of fire of some three hundred yards in every direction.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
foursnounUS /fɔːrz/
plural of “four” — the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading It stood in a clearing which gave a field of fire of some three hundred yards in every direction.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading At that distance, it looked like a solid square of grass huts and tents, surrounded by a high wall.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading He guessed each side to be about two hundred yards in length.
habitations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
HaltingadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːltɪŋ/
disabled in the feet or legs
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He guessed each side to be about two hundred yards in length.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading At that distance, it looked like a solid square of grass huts and tents, surrounded by a high wall.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
ten 10s
From this reading He guessed each side to be about two hundred yards in length.
hutsnounUS /hʌts/
plural of “hut” — temporary military shelter
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He guessed each side to be about two hundred yards in length.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At that distance, it looked like a solid square of grass huts and tents, surrounded by a high wall.
Kavirondo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
kitnounUS /kɪt/
a case for containing a set of articles
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading He guessed each side to be about two hundred yards in length.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading At that distance, it looked like a solid square of grass huts and tents, surrounded by a high wall.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading At that distance, it looked like a solid square of grass huts and tents, surrounded by a high wall.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
portersnounUS /ˈpɔːrtərz/
plural of “porter” — a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
on the contrary
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He guessed each side to be about two hundred yards in length.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading At that distance, it looked like a solid square of grass huts and tents, surrounded by a high wall.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
make square
From this reading At that distance, it looked like a solid square of grass huts and tents, surrounded by a high wall.
stockaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It stood in a clearing which gave a field of fire of some three hundred yards in every direction.
suggestingverbUS /səˈdʒestɪŋ/
-ing form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
confined on all sides
From this reading At that distance, it looked like a solid square of grass huts and tents, surrounded by a high wall.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
tentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading At that distance, it looked like a solid square of grass huts and tents, surrounded by a high wall.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It stood in a clearing which gave a field of fire of some three hundred yards in every direction.
tiniestadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪniəst/
superlative of “tiny” — very small
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He guessed each side to be about two hundred yards in length.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Halting the advance-guard, he formed it up from single file into fours; and, taking his kit from Ali, resumed it.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
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 At that distance, it looked like a solid square of grass huts and tents, surrounded by a high wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It stood in a clearing which gave a field of fire of some three hundred yards in every direction.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading He guessed each side to be about two hundred yards in length.
zariba
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a mile beyond a village of the tiniest huts—built for themselves by the Kavirondo porters, and suggesting beehives rather than human habitations—Bertram beheld the entrenched and stockaded _boma_, zariba, or fort, that was to be his home for some months.
