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What's Bred in the Bone
What's Bred in the Bone

Chapter XXXI

Cover illustration for What's Bred in the Bone
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PERILS BY THE WAY.
Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.
It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.
Their commissariat had indeed been a lean and hungry one.
Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

What's Bred in the Bone

Chapter XXXI

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PERILS BY THE WAY.
Line 2
Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.
Line 3
It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.
Line 4
Their commissariat had indeed been a lean and hungry one.
Line 5
Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.”

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Their commissariat had indeed been a lean and hungry one.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Their commissariat had indeed been a lean and hungry one.”

Resting noun US /ˈresting/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.”

All words in this reading · 91

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

African

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

bed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Their commissariat had indeed been a lean and hungry one.

best

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

burning

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

buy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading PERILS BY THE WAY.

carried

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

commissariat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Their commissariat had indeed been a lean and hungry one.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

country

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

day

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

depths

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

diamonds

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

dry

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

Europeans

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

food

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

fugitives

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Their commissariat had indeed been a lean and hungry one.

half-hostile

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

half-starved

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

helplessly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

hopelessly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

hungry

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Their commissariat had indeed been a lean and hungry one.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

indeed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Their commissariat had indeed been a lean and hungry one.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

Karoo

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

land

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

later

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

lean

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Their commissariat had indeed been a lean and hungry one.

making

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

many

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

marches

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

Namaqua

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

Namaquas

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

natives

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

negotiable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

night

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Their commissariat had indeed been a lean and hungry one.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

PERILS

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading PERILS BY THE WAY.

permit

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

persons

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

pounds

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

restingnounUS /ˈresting/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

sat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

seaward

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

shelter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

shrunken

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

South

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

stony

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

straggling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

summer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

sun

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

tattered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading PERILS BY THE WAY.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

thirsty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

thousand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

Three

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

torn

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

torrent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

uncivilized

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

WAY

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading PERILS BY THE WAY.

weary

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

weeks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three weeks later, two torn and tattered, half-starved Europeans sat under a burning South African sun by the dry bed of a shrunken summer torrent.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

worth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though they carried many thousand pounds' worth of diamonds about their persons, they had nothing negotiable with which to buy food or shelter from the uncivilized Namaquas.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It was in the depths of Namaqua land, among the stony Karoo; and the fugitives were straggling, helplessly and hopelessly, seaward, thirsty and weary, through a half-hostile country, making their marches as best they could at dead of night and resting by day where the natives would permit them.