used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The sound no longer centred in the villages about the foot of Kilima ja Mweze.
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 In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
anew
From this reading The rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
(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 It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading The rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
centred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound no longer centred in the villages about the foot of Kilima ja Mweze.
compassnounUS /ˈkʌmpəs/
navigational instrument for finding directions
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
CRAE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
the first light of day
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
drummingnounUS /ˈdrʌmɪŋ/
the act of playing drums
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
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 rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
echoverbUS /ˈekoʊ/
to say again or imitate
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The sound no longer centred in the villages about the foot of Kilima ja Mweze.
frenzynounUS /ˈfrenzi/
state of violent mental agitation
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
headlongadverbUS /ˈhedlɔːŋ/
with the head foremost
From this reading The rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
ja
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound no longer centred in the villages about the foot of Kilima ja Mweze.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
Kilima
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound no longer centred in the villages about the foot of Kilima ja Mweze.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
for more time
From this reading The sound no longer centred in the villages about the foot of Kilima ja Mweze.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
meditatingverbUS /ˈmedəteɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “meditate” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading The rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
Mweze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound no longer centred in the villages about the foot of Kilima ja Mweze.
N'goma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
night'snounUS /naɪts/
possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
not any; not one
From this reading The sound no longer centred in the villages about the foot of Kilima ja Mweze.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
and nothing more
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
portended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
recentadjectiveUS /ˈriːsənt/
new
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
rhythmnounUS /ˈrɪðəm/
the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music
From this reading The rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The sound no longer centred in the villages about the foot of Kilima ja Mweze.
stoepnoun
small porch or set of steps at the front entrance of a house
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
strangenessnounUS /ˈstreɪndʒnəs/
unusualness as a consequence of not being well known
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
tripleverbUS /ˈtrɪpəl/
increase threefold
From this reading The rhythm of the music, again, no longer followed the headlong triple time which had been beaten out by the drums of the N’goma.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
usheredverbUS /ˈʌʃərd/
past form of “usher” — take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
villagesnounUS /ˈvɪlədʒəz/
plural of “village” — a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The sound no longer centred in the villages about the foot of Kilima ja Mweze.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading In the ears of James it awakened only memories of a recent terror; but M‘Crae, more deeply learned in the ways of Africa, knew that it portended something more than an echo of the night’s frenzy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
in or at the place that
From this reading It came to him from every point of the compass and from places where he had no idea that there were villages at all.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I M‘CRAE, walking up and down the stoep, and meditating on the strangeness of life, was aware of the drumming which ushered in the dawn.
