used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FORMIDABLE RIVAL.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
adoptedadjectiveUS /əˈdɑːptɪd/
acquired as your own by free choice
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
attendancenounUS /əˈtendəns/
the act of being present (at a meeting or event etc.)
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
befellverbUS /bɪˈfel/
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading CHAPTER SIX.
chattyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃæti/
full of trivial conversation
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
erectedverbUS /ɪˈrektəd/
past form of “erect” — construct, build, or erect
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
familiarlyadverb
in an intimately familiar manner
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
FORMIDABLEadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading A FORMIDABLE RIVAL.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
Gungana
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
halting-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
temporary military shelter
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
hutsnounUS /hʌts/
plural of “hut” — temporary military shelter
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
indunas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
conformity or harmony
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
kraalnoun
a village of huts for native Africans in southern Africa; usually surrounded by a stockade
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
march in a procession
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
Mosutu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
not any; not one
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
ofttimesadverb
many times at short intervals
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
RIVALverbUS /ˈraɪvəl/
be equal to in quality or ability
From this reading A FORMIDABLE RIVAL.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
for a short time
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading CHAPTER SIX.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
Umzilikazi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
unbendverbUS /ˌʌnˈbend/
straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
Untuswa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
at the time that
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
witch-doctor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thus came it about that the Mosutu witch-doctor was adopted as one of ourselves."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "`Well, Untuswa,' he said to me, being in a chatty mood, for he would ofttimes unbend thus and talk familiarly with me when we were alone together, while keeping great _indunas_ like my father, or Gungana, at a distance, and in humble attitude.
plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
but in spite of that
From this reading "Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we came to a halting-place he liked, Umzilikazi would cause a few huts to be erected for himself and his wives.
