used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
acquiringnounUS /əˈkwaɪrɪŋ/
the act of acquiring something
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
AfricanounUS /ˈæfrəkɑː/
the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean
From this reading He had seen this part of Africa change dramatically under his eyes.
AfricanadjectiveUS /ˈæfrəkən/
of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
Basutonoun
the dialect of Sotho spoken by the Basotho; an official language of Lesotho
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In Livingstone’s wake had come rifles, missionaries, and the big game hunter.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
chiefsnounUS /tʃiːfs/
plural of “chief” — a person who is in charge
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In Livingstone’s wake had come rifles, missionaries, and the big game hunter.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
dramaticallyadverbUS /drəˈmætɪkli/
in a very impressive manner
From this reading He had seen this part of Africa change dramatically under his eyes.
empirenounUS /ˈempaɪər/
the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
opinion or judgment
From this reading He had seen this part of Africa change dramatically under his eyes.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading In Livingstone’s wake had come rifles, missionaries, and the big game hunter.
destroyed or killed
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had seen this part of Africa change dramatically under his eyes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
HighlandsnounUS /ˈhaɪləndz/
a mountainous region of northern Scotland famous for its rugged beauty; known for the style of dress (the kilt and tartan) and the clan system (now in disuse)
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had seen this part of Africa change dramatically under his eyes.
someone who hunts game
From this reading In Livingstone’s wake had come rifles, missionaries, and the big game hunter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
LivingstonenounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋstoʊn/
Scottish missionary and explorer who discovered the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls (1813-1873)
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
Livingstone'snounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋstoʊnz/
possessive form of “livingstone” — Scottish missionary and explorer who discovered the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls (1813-1873)
From this reading In Livingstone’s wake had come rifles, missionaries, and the big game hunter.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
missionariesnounUS /ˈmɪʃəneriz/
plural of “missionary” — someone who attempts to convert others to a particular doctrine or program
From this reading In Livingstone’s wake had come rifles, missionaries, and the big game hunter.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
mostlyadverbUS /ˈmoʊstli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
of an obscure nature
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He had seen this part of Africa change dramatically under his eyes.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
portersnounUS /ˈpɔːrtərz/
plural of “porter” — a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
processesnounUS /ˈprɑːsesəz/
plural of “process” — a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading In Livingstone’s wake had come rifles, missionaries, and the big game hunter.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had seen this part of Africa change dramatically under his eyes.
ShirenounUS /ʃaɪr/
a former administrative district of England; equivalent to a county
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He had seen this part of Africa change dramatically under his eyes.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He had seen this part of Africa change dramatically under his eyes.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading In Livingstone’s wake had come rifles, missionaries, and the big game hunter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was now acquiring a considerable knowledge of things African, and more particularly of those mysterious processes of change and adventure that were presented to the British consciousness in those days as “empire building.”
at the time that
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
a Caucasian
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
which person or people
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The people of the Shire Highlands were now mostly under the rule of chiefs who had come into the country with Livingstone as Basuto porters, and whom he had armed with rifles.
a late time of life
From this reading When first he had gone out it was but a dozen years from the death of Livingstone, who had been the first white man in this land.
