Chapter IV · Chapter 4

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

anew

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

(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 There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

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

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

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

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

the hard woody stems of bamboo plants; used in construction and crafts and fishing poles

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

a committee having supervisory powers

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

for the most part

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

a state at a particular time

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

inflected form of “cram” — crowd or pack to capacity

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

plural of “deck” — any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

bad; unfortunate

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

a lateen-rigged sailing vessel used by Arabs

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

of a very dark black

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

past form of “enslave” — make a slave of; bring into servitude

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

a native or inhabitant of Europe

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

divisible by two

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

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

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

ten 10s

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

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

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

plural of “infant” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

owning or consisting of land or real estate

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

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

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

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 Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

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 Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

plural of “notion” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

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

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

any competition

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

separated in relationship by a given degree of descent

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

a republic on the Seychelles islands; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1976

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

transport commercially

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

be seated

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

plural of “skeleton” — something reduced to its minimal form

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

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

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

plural of “specimen” — an example regarded as typical of its class

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

the act of guiding or showing the way

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

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

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

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

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

plural of “tint” — a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

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

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

displeasing to the senses

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

in a vertical position; not sloping

From this reading Many were in a deplorable condition, having been long crammed together on the bamboo decks of the dhow, without being even able to sit upright.

spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

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

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Some few, chiefly Gallas, were fine-looking people, with nothing of the negro in their features, and of a dark copper colour; but the greater number, according to European notions, were excessively ugly specimens of the human race.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The ship was now steering for the Seychelles Islands, the nearest place at which negroes could be landed without the risk of again being enslaved.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Several of the women had infants in their arms, the poor little creatures being mere living skeletons; not a few of them, indeed, died as they were being removed from the slavers to the ship.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading There were upwards of three hundred of these poor creatures on board, of all tints, from yellow and brown to ebon black.