Chapter XVI

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

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

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

From this reading THE FEAST OF NJAMBAI.—THE TALKING IDOL.—SECRET PROCEEDINGS.—THE WOMEN AND THEIR MYSTERIES.

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

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

the act of overcoming or outdoing

From this reading The noise was terrific; more than one hundred tam-tams must have been beating.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The noise was terrific; more than one hundred tam-tams must have been beating.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading When I inquired the cause why so many strangers were in the village, I was told that the Njambai feast was coming.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading When I inquired the cause why so many strangers were in the village, I was told that the Njambai feast was coming.

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

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

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

the act of consuming liquids

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

the act of playing drums

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

to or in any or all places

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

a ceremonial dinner party for many people

From this reading THE FEAST OF NJAMBAI.—THE TALKING IDOL.—SECRET PROCEEDINGS.—THE WOMEN AND THEIR MYSTERIES.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The noise was terrific; more than one hundred tam-tams must have been beating.

for this reason

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

ten 10s

From this reading The noise was terrific; more than one hundred tam-tams must have been beating.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading When I inquired the cause why so many strangers were in the village, I was told that the Njambai feast was coming.

a material effigy that is worshipped

From this reading THE FEAST OF NJAMBAI.—THE TALKING IDOL.—SECRET PROCEEDINGS.—THE WOMEN AND THEIR MYSTERIES.

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

From this reading When I inquired the cause why so many strangers were in the village, I was told that the Njambai feast was coming.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from

From this reading When I inquired the cause why so many strangers were in the village, I was told that the Njambai feast was coming.

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

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

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 village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The noise was terrific; more than one hundred tam-tams must have been beating.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The noise was terrific; more than one hundred tam-tams must have been beating.

plural of “mystery” — something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading THE FEAST OF NJAMBAI.—THE TALKING IDOL.—SECRET PROCEEDINGS.—THE WOMEN AND THEIR MYSTERIES.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

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

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

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

From this reading THE FEAST OF NJAMBAI.—THE TALKING IDOL.—SECRET PROCEEDINGS.—THE WOMEN AND THEIR MYSTERIES.

not any; not one

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading The noise was terrific; more than one hundred tam-tams must have been beating.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FEAST OF NJAMBAI.—THE TALKING IDOL.—SECRET PROCEEDINGS.—THE WOMEN AND THEIR MYSTERIES.

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

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The noise was terrific; more than one hundred tam-tams must have been beating.

(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

From this reading THE FEAST OF NJAMBAI.—THE TALKING IDOL.—SECRET PROCEEDINGS.—THE WOMEN AND THEIR MYSTERIES.

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading THE FEAST OF NJAMBAI.—THE TALKING IDOL.—SECRET PROCEEDINGS.—THE WOMEN AND THEIR MYSTERIES.

a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

closely encircling

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading THE FEAST OF NJAMBAI.—THE TALKING IDOL.—SECRET PROCEEDINGS.—THE WOMEN AND THEIR MYSTERIES.

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

From this reading The noise was terrific; more than one hundred tam-tams must have been beating.

very great or intense

From this reading The noise was terrific; more than one hundred tam-tams must have been beating.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The noise was terrific; more than one hundred tam-tams must have been beating.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

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

From this reading THE FEAST OF NJAMBAI.—THE TALKING IDOL.—SECRET PROCEEDINGS.—THE WOMEN AND THEIR MYSTERIES.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading THE FEAST OF NJAMBAI.—THE TALKING IDOL.—SECRET PROCEEDINGS.—THE WOMEN AND THEIR MYSTERIES.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading When I inquired the cause why so many strangers were in the village, I was told that the Njambai feast was coming.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

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

From this reading When I inquired the cause why so many strangers were in the village, I was told that the Njambai feast was coming.

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

From this reading The village of Njali-Coudié became full of strangers, so full indeed that many could not find shelter there, hence little olakos were surrounding the village everywhere.

at the time that

From this reading When I inquired the cause why so many strangers were in the village, I was told that the Njambai feast was coming.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading When I inquired the cause why so many strangers were in the village, I was told that the Njambai feast was coming.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The first night I could not sleep, as no African feast is complete without shouting, drumming, singing, dancing, and a good deal of drinking, when the latter can be got.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading THE FEAST OF NJAMBAI.—THE TALKING IDOL.—SECRET PROCEEDINGS.—THE WOMEN AND THEIR MYSTERIES.