used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
from appearances alone
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But of the assailants there was as yet no sign.
assailantsnounUS /əˈseɪlənts/
plural of “assailant” — someone who attacks
From this reading But of the assailants there was as yet no sign.
avocations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
bushnounUS /bʊʃ/
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But of the assailants there was as yet no sign.
chattingverbUS /ˈtʃætɪŋ/
inflected form of “chat” — talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
destructionnounUS /dɪˈstrʌkʃən/
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
Elvesdon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
hailingverbUS /ˈheɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
the lack of knowledge or education
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
kraalnoun
a village of huts for native Africans in southern Africa; usually surrounded by a stockade
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
loafingnoun
having no employment
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
not any; not one
From this reading But of the assailants there was as yet no sign.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
overwhelmverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelm/
overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
ridgenounUS /rɪdʒ/
a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading But of the assailants there was as yet no sign.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
squatted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But of the assailants there was as yet no sign.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
troopernounUS /ˈtruːpər/
a soldier in a motorized army unit
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Then he became aware of the presence of a native--an old man--who, squatted under a bush, was apparently hailing him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading On reaching the ridge they looked down upon another kraal in front of them.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Its inhabitants were loafing about over their usual avocations or lack of such, in apparent ignorance of the black destruction that was about to overwhelm them.
which person or people
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
but in spite of that
From this reading But of the assailants there was as yet no sign.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Elvesdon who had been chatting a little further with the young Police trooper was somewhat behind the party.
