used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the absence of the m’sungu his position had been a difficult one.
the state of being absent
From this reading In the absence of the m’sungu his position had been a difficult one.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading If the m’sungu was gone, what would become of them?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the absence of the m’sungu his position had been a difficult one.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
consternationnounUS /ˌkɑːnstərˈneɪʃən/
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading In the absence of the m’sungu his position had been a difficult one.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Who would tell them what to do?
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
an opposing military force
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
destroyed or killed
From this reading If the m’sungu was gone, what would become of them?
a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the absence of the m’sungu his position had been a difficult one.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
humilitynounUS /hjuːˈmɪlɪti/
a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the m’sungu was gone, what would become of them?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the absence of the m’sungu his position had been a difficult one.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
m'sungu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the absence of the m’sungu his position had been a difficult one.
magnifyingverbUS /ˈmæɡnəfaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “magnify” — increase in size, volume or significance
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
the force of workers available
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
Mirambo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
Mwesa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the absence of the m’sungu his position had been a difficult one.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading In the absence of the m’sungu his position had been a difficult one.
singlyadverbUS /ˈsɪŋɡli/
one by one; one at a time
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
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 men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
express in words
From this reading Who would tell them what to do?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading If the m’sungu was gone, what would become of them?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Who would tell them what to do?
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The men of the hunting party had come dropping in singly and in small groups, and the story they told, magnifying the numbers of the enemy, had struck consternation and fear into the hearts of the people.
male cat
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If the m’sungu was gone, what would become of them?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading If the m’sungu was gone, what would become of them?
at the time that
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
which person or people
From this reading Who would tell them what to do?
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Mirambo came up, hard on the heels of Mwesa, he too fell on his face and greeted Tom with an air of mingled humility and gratitude.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If the m’sungu was gone, what would become of them?
