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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
all
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From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
attack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
become
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From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
Bekwando
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From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
blinding
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From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
bought
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From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
bravery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
bullets
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From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
civilisation
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From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
couched
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From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
drink
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From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
face
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From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
fiasco
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From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
fighting
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From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
flaccid
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From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
frontiers
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From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
gold
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From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
grass
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From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
greedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
hated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
horrid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
intruders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
ivory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
Lee-Metford
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From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
looking-glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
muscle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
naked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
nerve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
Oom
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From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
palm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
pressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
revolver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
risen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
rum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
rushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
Sam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
savage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
spears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
subtle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
vanished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
virtuenounUS /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The attack was a fiasco, the fighting was all over in ten minutes.
waters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But civilisation pressing upon their frontiers had brought Oom Sam greedy for ivory and gold, and Oom Sam had bought rum and strong waters.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
wine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred years ago the men of Bekwando, who went naked and knew no drink more subtle than palm wine had one virtue--bravery.
yell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they had risen from the long grass with a horrid yell and had rushed in upon the hated intruders with couched spears only to be met by a blinding fire of Lee-Metford and revolver bullets their bravery vanished like breath from the face of a looking-glass.
