used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
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 It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
(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 Environment, climate, nature, had gradually exercised all their enervating influence upon his youthful personality.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
put or send forth
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
climatenounUS /ˈklaɪmət/
the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time
From this reading Environment, climate, nature, had gradually exercised all their enervating influence upon his youthful personality.
complicatedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpləkeɪtəd/
difficult to analyze or understand
From this reading The story of Jean’s early life was not a very complicated one.
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading He had passed through several phases of moral development.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The story of Jean’s early life was not a very complicated one.
enchantmentnounUS /enˈtʃæntmənt/
a feeling of great liking for something wonderful and unusual
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
enervatingadjective
causing debilitation
From this reading Environment, climate, nature, had gradually exercised all their enervating influence upon his youthful personality.
EnvironmentnounUS /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
the totality of surrounding conditions
From this reading Environment, climate, nature, had gradually exercised all their enervating influence upon his youthful personality.
exercisedverbUS /ˈeksərsaɪzd/
past form of “exercise” — put to use
From this reading Environment, climate, nature, had gradually exercised all their enervating influence upon his youthful personality.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
Fatou-gaye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
a young female
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
glidingnounUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of flying a glider
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Environment, climate, nature, had gradually exercised all their enervating influence upon his youthful personality.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
impureadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpjʊr/
combined with extraneous elements
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading Environment, climate, nature, had gradually exercised all their enervating influence upon his youthful personality.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
Jean'snounUS /dʒiːnz/
possessive form of “jean” — a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading The story of Jean’s early life was not a very complicated one.
Khassonké
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The story of Jean’s early life was not a very complicated one.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/
concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
From this reading He had passed through several phases of moral development.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Environment, climate, nature, had gradually exercised all their enervating influence upon his youthful personality.
negronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/
a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The story of Jean’s early life was not a very complicated one.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He had passed through several phases of moral development.
personalitynounUS /ˌpɜːrsəˈnælɪti/
the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual
From this reading Environment, climate, nature, had gradually exercised all their enervating influence upon his youthful personality.
Peyral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
phasesnounUS /ˈfeɪzəz/
plural of “phase” — any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading He had passed through several phases of moral development.
any competition
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
seductionnounUS /sɪˈdʌkʃən/
enticing someone astray from right behavior
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
sensualadjectiveUS /ˈsenʃəwəl/
marked by the appetites and passions of the body
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading He had passed through several phases of moral development.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
slopesnounUS /sloʊps/
plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The story of Jean’s early life was not a very complicated one.
talismanicadjective
possessing or believed to possess magic power especially protective power
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Environment, climate, nature, had gradually exercised all their enervating influence upon his youthful personality.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He had passed through several phases of moral development.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
transformationnounUS /ˌtrænsfərˈmeɪʃən/
a qualitative change
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
undergoneverbUS /ˌʌndərˈɡɔːn/
inflected form of “undergo” — pass through
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
not known
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Environment, climate, nature, had gradually exercised all their enervating influence upon his youthful personality.
precisely as stated
From this reading The story of Jean’s early life was not a very complicated one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
which person or people
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
a late time of life
From this reading I It was three years since Jean Peyral had first set foot in this land of Africa, and since his arrival he had undergone an extraordinary transformation.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Slowly he had felt himself gliding down unknown slopes—and to-day he was the lover of Fatou-gaye, a young negro girl of Khassonké race, who had cast upon him I know not what sensual and impure seduction, what talismanic enchantment.
youthfuladjectiveUS /ˈjuːθfəl/
suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh
From this reading Environment, climate, nature, had gradually exercised all their enervating influence upon his youthful personality.
