used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To the hunters time was a consideration.
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
alacritynounUS /əˈlækrəti/
liveliness and eagerness
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading MAKING THE ELEPHANT'S BED.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
BushmannounUS /ˈbʊʃmən/
nomadic hunters and gatherers who live in southern Africa
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading To the hunters time was a consideration.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
director-general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
elephantnounUS /ˈeləfənt/
five-toed pachyderm
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
ELEPHANT'SnounUS /ˈeləfənts/
possessive form of “elephant” — five-toed pachyderm
From this reading MAKING THE ELEPHANT'S BED.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
hottestadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːtəst/
superlative of “hot” — used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
huntersnounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading To the hunters time was a consideration.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
jocoselyadverb
with humor
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
and nothing more
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
engage in
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading MAKING THE ELEPHANT'S BED.
the middle of the day
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
prepareverbUS /priˈper/
make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
only a very short time before
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
Swartboy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
termedverbUS /tɜːrmd/
past form of “term” — name formally or designate with a term
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MAKING THE ELEPHANT'S BED.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him--to "make his bed," as Swartboy had jocosely termed it.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading To the hunters time was a consideration.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To the hunters time was a consideration.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To the hunters time was a consideration.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
in the company of; together with
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading So they went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If the elephant should return that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon.
