Chapter I

filled with fear or apprehension

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

(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 All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

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

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By this I mean that they are traditional, handed down by word of mouth.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading By this I mean that they are traditional, handed down by word of mouth.

a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

start firing a weapon

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Nobody knows how old they are, or who told them first.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

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

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

having or involving the use of hands

From this reading By this I mean that they are traditional, handed down by word of mouth.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

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

From this reading Nobody knows how old they are, or who told them first.

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

From this reading By this I mean that they are traditional, handed down by word of mouth.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

a small worthless amount

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

and nothing more

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

an offensive and insulting term for any Black African

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

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

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading Nobody knows how old they are, or who told them first.

the sound of laughing

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading By this I mean that they are traditional, handed down by word of mouth.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading By this I mean that they are traditional, handed down by word of mouth.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

no person; not anyone

From this reading Nobody knows how old they are, or who told them first.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading By this I mean that they are traditional, handed down by word of mouth.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Nobody knows how old they are, or who told them first.

and nothing more

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

not often

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

be seated

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

the state of being asleep

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading By this I mean that they are traditional, handed down by word of mouth.

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

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Nobody knows how old they are, or who told them first.

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

From this reading By this I mean that they are traditional, handed down by word of mouth.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading All the stories in this book are real Fairy Tales, just as much as “Jack the Giant-Killer” or “The Sleeping Beauty.”

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

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Nobody knows how old they are, or who told them first.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

consisting of or derived from tradition

From this reading By this I mean that they are traditional, handed down by word of mouth.

precisely as stated

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

a Caucasian

From this reading But little Kafir children sit round the fire at night and hear them from their old grandmother, and sometimes—but very very seldom—white people are allowed to hear them too.

which person or people

From this reading Nobody knows how old they are, or who told them first.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading By this I mean that they are traditional, handed down by word of mouth.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You see, the Kafirs are afraid white people would laugh at them, and so they will only begin if they are quite sure you are really interested.