Chapter V · Chapter 5

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

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

possessing life

From this reading "And are the people still alive, then?"

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

From this reading "And are the people still alive, then?"

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

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

From this reading "And are the people still alive, then?"

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading I asked.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

a person who is in charge

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

a form of sexual desire in which gratification depends to an abnormal degree on some object or item of clothing or part of the body

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

having received what was desired

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading "They were when I last heard of them," answered Mendouca.

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

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I asked.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

immediately past

From this reading "They were when I last heard of them," answered Mendouca.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

kill a large number of people indiscriminately

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

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

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

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

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

not any; not one

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading "And are the people still alive, then?"

capable of happening or existing

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

a feeling of self-respect and personal worth

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

disposed of to a purchaser

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

not in physical motion

From this reading "And are the people still alive, then?"

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

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

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading "And are the people still alive, then?"

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

From this reading "They were when I last heard of them," answered Mendouca.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

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

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

experiencing intense pain especially mental pain

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

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

From this reading "They were when I last heard of them," answered Mendouca.

at the time that

From this reading "They were when I last heard of them," answered Mendouca.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "But it is quite possible that by this time they--or at least a part of them--have been tortured to death by Matadi--the chief to whom I sold them--as a sacrifice to his fetish."

in the company of; together with

From this reading "No, not the massacre of them, certainly, but their capture," answered Mendouca, with a smile of gratified pride.