used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
actionsnounUS /ˈækʃənz/
plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
alienationnounUS /ˌeɪliəˈneɪʃən/
the feeling of being alienated from other people
From this reading The more sagacious chiefs entertained fears of the alienation of their territories.
(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 The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
allegedadjectiveUS /əˈledʒd/
declared but not proved
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
chiefsnounUS /tʃiːfs/
plural of “chief” — a person who is in charge
From this reading The more sagacious chiefs entertained fears of the alienation of their territories.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading The time seemed propitious to unite the tribes against the common foe.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
entertainedadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading The more sagacious chiefs entertained fears of the alienation of their territories.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading The more sagacious chiefs entertained fears of the alienation of their territories.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
flocknounUS /flɑːk/
a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
foenounUS /foʊ/
an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading The time seemed propitious to unite the tribes against the common foe.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The growing superiority of the white settlers troubled them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
injusticenounUS /ˌɪnˈdʒʌstɪs/
an unjust act
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
lamentverbUS /ləˈment/
express grief verbally
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
manifestverbUS /ˈmænəfest/
provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
MaorinounUS /ˈmaʊri/
an ethnic minority of Polynesian and Melanesian descent who speak Maori and live in New Zealand
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The more sagacious chiefs entertained fears of the alienation of their territories.
motivesnounUS /ˈmoʊtɪvz/
plural of “motive” — the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The more sagacious chiefs entertained fears of the alienation of their territories.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
OutnumberedverbUS /ˌaʊtˈnʌmbərd/
past form of “outnumber” — be larger in number
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
propitiousadjectiveUS /prəˈpɪʃəs/
presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success
From this reading The time seemed propitious to unite the tribes against the common foe.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
recitationsnounUS /ˌresɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “recitation” — written matter that is recited from memory
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
sagaciousadjective
acutely insightful and wise
From this reading The more sagacious chiefs entertained fears of the alienation of their territories.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
settlersnounUS /ˈsetlərz/
plural of “settler” — a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country
From this reading The growing superiority of the white settlers troubled them.
plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
superioritynounUS /ˌsuːpɪriˈɔːrɪti/
the quality of being superior
From this reading The growing superiority of the white settlers troubled them.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
territoriesnounUS /ˈterətɔːriz/
plural of “territory” — a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading The more sagacious chiefs entertained fears of the alienation of their territories.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The more sagacious chiefs entertained fears of the alienation of their territories.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The growing superiority of the white settlers troubled them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The time seemed propitious to unite the tribes against the common foe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
tribesnounUS /traɪbz/
plural of “tribe” — a social division of (usually preliterate) people
From this reading The time seemed propitious to unite the tribes against the common foe.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading The growing superiority of the white settlers troubled them.
underlyingadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈlaɪɪŋ/
in the nature of something though not readily apparent
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
uniteverbUS /ˈjuːnaɪt/
act in concert or unite in a common purpose or belief
From this reading The time seemed propitious to unite the tribes against the common foe.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
weaponsnounUS /ˈwepənz/
plural of “weapon” — any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
at the time that
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
a Caucasian
From this reading The growing superiority of the white settlers troubled them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Outnumbered, fighting against superior weapons, the day seemed near when, as in their songs and recitations, they began to lament, "The Maori people would be like a flock of birds upon a rock, with the sea rising fast around them."
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading The natives alleged that they had taken up arms against manifest wrong and injustice; but underlying all other motives and actions was the land question.
