used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
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 "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading "The Chartered Company is going to send an expedition into Matabeleland against Lobengula.
(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 Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "The Chartered Company is going to send an expedition into Matabeleland against Lobengula.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It would have been better for you to have postponed your journey until a little later."
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading It would have been better for you to have postponed your journey until a little later."
CharteredadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɑːrtərd/
hired for the exclusive temporary use of a group of travelers
From this reading "The Chartered Company is going to send an expedition into Matabeleland against Lobengula.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading "The Chartered Company is going to send an expedition into Matabeleland against Lobengula.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading "The Chartered Company is going to send an expedition into Matabeleland against Lobengula.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It would have been better for you to have postponed your journey until a little later."
fortsnounUS /fɔːrts/
plural of “fort” — a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
the act of departing
From this reading "The Chartered Company is going to send an expedition into Matabeleland against Lobengula.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading That will not be very interesting.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "The Chartered Company is going to send an expedition into Matabeleland against Lobengula.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The Chartered Company is going to send an expedition into Matabeleland against Lobengula.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would have been better for you to have postponed your journey until a little later."
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading It would have been better for you to have postponed your journey until a little later."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading It would have been better for you to have postponed your journey until a little later."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It would have been better for you to have postponed your journey until a little later."
Lobengula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Chartered Company is going to send an expedition into Matabeleland against Lobengula.
Mashonaland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
Matabeleland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Chartered Company is going to send an expedition into Matabeleland against Lobengula.
the force of workers available
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading That will not be very interesting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
postponedverbUS /poʊstˈpoʊnd/
past form of “postpone” — hold back to a later time
From this reading It would have been better for you to have postponed your journey until a little later."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading "The Chartered Company is going to send an expedition into Matabeleland against Lobengula.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
express a supposition
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That will not be very interesting.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "The Chartered Company is going to send an expedition into Matabeleland against Lobengula.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It would have been better for you to have postponed your journey until a little later."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
precisely as stated
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Almost all the men in the country will be needed to fight, and while they are away in Matabeleland the ladies in Mashonaland will all be shut up in forts.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would have been better for you to have postponed your journey until a little later."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I suppose you know you have come to this part of Africa at a very bad time?" he said.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It would have been better for you to have postponed your journey until a little later."
