used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
activelyadverbUS /ˈæktɪvli/
in an active manner
From this reading The torchbearers capered more actively, and yelled more excitedly.
AFRICANadjectiveUS /ˈæfrəkən/
of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples
From this reading AN AFRICAN NIGHT.
(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 The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN AFRICAN NIGHT.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
bedaubedadjective
ornamented in a vulgar or showy fashion
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
blacksnounUS /blæks/
plural of “black” — the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
capered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The torchbearers capered more actively, and yelled more excitedly.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
coloredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
culminatedverbUS /ˈkʌlməneɪtɪd/
past form of “culminate” — end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
drummingnounUS /ˈdrʌmɪŋ/
the act of playing drums
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
drumsnounUS /drʌmz/
plural of “drum” — a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading The drums renewed their frantic, resounding thunder.
earthsnounUS /ɜːrθs/
plural of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
ecstasynounUS /ˈekstəsi/
a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
excitedlyadverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪtədli/
with excitement; in an excited manner
From this reading The torchbearers capered more actively, and yelled more excitedly.
franticadjectiveUS /ˈfræntɪk/
excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
From this reading The drums renewed their frantic, resounding thunder.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
hypnoticadjectiveUS /hɪpˈnɑːtɪk/
of or relating to hypnosis
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
jujunounUS /ˈdʒuːdʒuː/
the power associated with a juju
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The torchbearers capered more actively, and yelled more excitedly.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading AN AFRICAN NIGHT.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
renewedadjectiveUS /rɪˈnuːd/
restored to a new condition
From this reading The drums renewed their frantic, resounding thunder.
resoundingadjectiveUS /riˈsaʊndɪŋ/
characterized by resonance
From this reading The drums renewed their frantic, resounding thunder.
speciesnounUS /ˈspiːʃiz/
(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The drums renewed their frantic, resounding thunder.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading The drums renewed their frantic, resounding thunder.
torchbearers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The torchbearers capered more actively, and yelled more excitedly.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
witchnounUS /wɪtʃ/
a female sorcerer or magician
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading From the juju house the witch doctor emerged, bedaubed with colored earths and bright ashes.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The drumming had gone on all day and its hypnotic effect had culminated in a species of ecstasy in which the blacks yelled and capered, and capered and yelled, without any clear notion of why or what they yelled.
yelledadjectiveUS /jeld/
in a vehement outcry
From this reading The torchbearers capered more actively, and yelled more excitedly.
