Chapter XI

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

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

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

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

under a curse

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

(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 THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

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

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

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

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

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

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading "We must not believe all we hear.

a country on western coast of Africa; formerly under French control

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading "I've heard it said," Creggan ventured to remark, "that the men of Benin are not brave, Captain Flint."

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Remarks like these are generally made by gentlemen journalists who live at home at ease.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading "I've heard it said," Creggan ventured to remark, "that the men of Benin are not brave, Captain Flint."

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

an officer in command of a military unit

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

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

From this reading "I've heard it said," Creggan ventured to remark, "that the men of Benin are not brave, Captain Flint."

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

a country on western coast of Africa; formerly under French control

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

move gently or carefully

From this reading Remarks like these are generally made by gentlemen journalists who live at home at ease.

a hard kind of stone; a form of silica more opaque than chalcedony

From this reading "I've heard it said," Creggan ventured to remark, "that the men of Benin are not brave, Captain Flint."

usually; as a rule

From this reading Remarks like these are generally made by gentlemen journalists who live at home at ease.

plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement

From this reading Remarks like these are generally made by gentlemen journalists who live at home at ease.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The captain shook his head and smiled.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading "We must not believe all we hear.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading "I've heard it said," Creggan ventured to remark, "that the men of Benin are not brave, Captain Flint."

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The captain shook his head and smiled.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Remarks like these are generally made by gentlemen journalists who live at home at ease.

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

From this reading "I've heard it said," Creggan ventured to remark, "that the men of Benin are not brave, Captain Flint."

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

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

plural of “journalist” — a writer for newspapers and magazines

From this reading Remarks like these are generally made by gentlemen journalists who live at home at ease.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Remarks like these are generally made by gentlemen journalists who live at home at ease.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Remarks like these are generally made by gentlemen journalists who live at home at ease.

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Remarks like these are generally made by gentlemen journalists who live at home at ease.

the force of workers available

From this reading "I've heard it said," Creggan ventured to remark, "that the men of Benin are not brave, Captain Flint."

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "We must not believe all we hear.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "I've heard it said," Creggan ventured to remark, "that the men of Benin are not brave, Captain Flint."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information

From this reading "I've heard it said," Creggan ventured to remark, "that the men of Benin are not brave, Captain Flint."

plural of “remark” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information

From this reading Remarks like these are generally made by gentlemen journalists who live at home at ease.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment

From this reading The captain shook his head and smiled.

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading The captain shook his head and smiled.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

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

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

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

From this reading Remarks like these are generally made by gentlemen journalists who live at home at ease.

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

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

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

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

dangerously unstable and unpredictable

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers

From this reading "I've heard it said," Creggan ventured to remark, "that the men of Benin are not brave, Captain Flint."

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "We must not believe all we hear.

toward the west

From this reading THE CITY OF BLOOD "In the city of Benin," said the commander, that night at dinner, "and all around it, westward to Dahomey, Abomey, and Ashantee, they are a bad lot, an accursed lot, treacherous and cruel to a degree."

which person or people

From this reading Remarks like these are generally made by gentlemen journalists who live at home at ease.