Chapter I

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S," "A SUB.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

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

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

declared publicly; made widely known

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

on or to one side

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S," "A SUB.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S," "A SUB.

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

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

a short stout club used primarily by policemen

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S," "A SUB.

a brass instrument without valves; used for military calls and fanfares

From this reading "Four o'clock mornin', sah; bugle him go for revally."

a sheath worn to protect a finger

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

plural of “covering” — a natural object that covers or envelops

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

open to doubt or suspicion

From this reading Doubtful whether his senses were not playing him false Wilmshurst glanced round the room.

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

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

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

From this reading OF THE R.N.R," ETC., ETC.

not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality

From this reading Doubtful whether his senses were not playing him false Wilmshurst glanced round the room.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Four o'clock mornin', sah; bugle him go for revally."

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading "Four o'clock mornin', sah; bugle him go for revally."

past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading Doubtful whether his senses were not playing him false Wilmshurst glanced round the room.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "Four o'clock mornin', sah; bugle him go for revally."

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

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

only a very short time before

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

a member of a Negroid people living chiefly in northern Nigeria

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Four o'clock mornin', sah; bugle him go for revally."

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

a commissioned military officer

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

of very great significance

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

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

From this reading "Four o'clock mornin', sah; bugle him go for revally."

two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S," "A SUB.

information about recent and important events

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Doubtful whether his senses were not playing him false Wilmshurst glanced round the room.

last or greatest in an indefinitely large series

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

according to the clock

From this reading "Four o'clock mornin', sah; bugle him go for revally."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S," "A SUB.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

the act of playing a musical instrument

From this reading Doubtful whether his senses were not playing him false Wilmshurst glanced round the room.

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S," "A SUB.

earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

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

From this reading "Four o'clock mornin', sah; bugle him go for revally."

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Doubtful whether his senses were not playing him false Wilmshurst glanced round the room.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Doubtful whether his senses were not playing him false Wilmshurst glanced round the room.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S," "A SUB.

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

From this reading "Four o'clock mornin', sah; bugle him go for revally."

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana

From this reading Doubtful whether his senses were not playing him false Wilmshurst glanced round the room.

a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

be a substitute

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S," "A SUB.

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

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

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

From this reading OF THE R.N.R," ETC., ETC.

inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

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

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

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

From this reading Doubtful whether his senses were not playing him false Wilmshurst glanced round the room.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Doubtful whether his senses were not playing him false Wilmshurst glanced round the room.

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

From this reading Dudley Wilmshurst, Second Lieutenant of the Nth West African Regiment, threw off the light coverings, pulled aside the mosquito curtains, and sat upon the edge of his cot, hardly able to realise that Tari Barl, his Haussa servant, had announced the momentous news.