used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Our trip had been a successful one.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading When we had done so, we started to strike down to Kimberley across a little-known and very sandy district.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading Macgregor disregarded the advice.
(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 We penetrated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our goods.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We penetrated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our goods.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Our trip had been a successful one.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
having made preparations
From this reading We penetrated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our goods.
disregardedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsrɪˈɡɑːrdɪd/
not noticed inadvertently
From this reading Macgregor disregarded the advice.
dissuadeverbUS /dɪˈsweɪd/
turn away from by persuasion
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
districtnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkt/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading When we had done so, we started to strike down to Kimberley across a little-known and very sandy district.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading When we had done so, we started to strike down to Kimberley across a little-known and very sandy district.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When we had done so, we started to strike down to Kimberley across a little-known and very sandy district.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
endeavoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading We penetrated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our goods.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
plural of “good” — benefit
From this reading We penetrated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our goods.
highest in quality
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Our trip had been a successful one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We penetrated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our goods.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading We penetrated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our goods.
KimberleynounUS /ˈkɪmbərli/
city in central South Africa; center for diamond mining and diamond marketing
From this reading When we had done so, we started to strike down to Kimberley across a little-known and very sandy district.
little-knownadjective
unknown to most people
From this reading When we had done so, we started to strike down to Kimberley across a little-known and very sandy district.
MacgregornounUS /məˈɡreɡər/
Scottish clan leader and outlaw who was the subject of a 1817 novel by Sir Walter Scott (1671-1734)
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
nativesnounUS /ˈneɪtɪvz/
plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
obtainingverbUS /əbˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We penetrated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our goods.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Our trip had been a successful one.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Our trip had been a successful one.
penetratedverbUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪd/
past form of “penetrate” — pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
From this reading We penetrated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our goods.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
sandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading When we had done so, we started to strike down to Kimberley across a little-known and very sandy district.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When we had done so, we started to strike down to Kimberley across a little-known and very sandy district.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When we had done so, we started to strike down to Kimberley across a little-known and very sandy district.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading When we had done so, we started to strike down to Kimberley across a little-known and very sandy district.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading "Our trip had been a successful one.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We penetrated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our goods.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When we had done so, we started to strike down to Kimberley across a little-known and very sandy district.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading "Our trip had been a successful one.
precisely as stated
From this reading We penetrated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our goods.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We penetrated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our goods.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
at the time that
From this reading When we had done so, we started to strike down to Kimberley across a little-known and very sandy district.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The natives among whom we were, endeavoured to dissuade Macgregor from making the attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one, that many of the pools were empty, and that there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
