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54-40 or Fight
54-40 or Fight

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of 54-40 or Fight is here in full — 39 sentences across 8 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for 54-40 or Fight
Context Illustration Reading 1/7 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.
The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.
Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.
But this man was my master, my chief, in whose service I had engaged.
Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.
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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.

54-40 or Fight

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of 54-40 or Fight is here in full — 39 sentences across 8 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/7 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.
Line 2
The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.
Line 3
Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.
/hæd ɪt bɪn əˈnʌðər mæn huː æskt miː tuː ˈkæri ðɪs ˈmesədʒ aɪ mʌst hæv rəˈfjuːzd/
Line 4
But this man was my master, my chief, in whose service I had engaged.
/bʌt ðɪs mæn wɑːz maɪ ˈmæstər maɪ tʃiːf ɪn huːz ˈsɜːrvəs aɪ hæd enˈɡeɪdʒd/
Line 5
Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

argument noun US /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/

a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true

From this reading “IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.”

egotism noun US /ˈiːɡətɪzəm/

an exaggerated opinion of your own importance

From this reading “IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.”

message noun US /ˈmesədʒ/

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading “Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.”

missing adjective US /ˈmɪsɪŋ/

not able to be found

From this reading “The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.”

rankled verb US /ˈræŋkəld/

past form of “rankle” — gnaw into; make resentful or angry

From this reading “The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.”

refused verb US /rəˈfjuːzd/

past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards

From this reading “Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.”

showing noun US /ˈʃoʊɪŋ/

the display of a motion picture

From this reading “Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.”

title noun US /ˈtaɪtəl/

a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with

From this reading “Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.”

All words in this reading · 58

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

ARGUMENTnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/

a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But this man was my master, my chief, in whose service I had engaged.

Calhoun

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

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

carryverbUS /ˈkæri/

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

chiefnounUS /tʃiːf/

a person who is in charge

From this reading But this man was my master, my chief, in whose service I had engaged.

DenounUS /diː/

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

egotismnounUS /ˈiːɡətɪzəm/

an exaggerated opinion of your own importance

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

Elisabeth

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

From this reading The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.

engagedadjectiveUS /enˈɡeɪdʒd/

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading But this man was my master, my chief, in whose service I had engaged.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

masternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading But this man was my master, my chief, in whose service I had engaged.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

meetingnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋ/

a formally arranged gathering

From this reading The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.

messagenounUS /ˈmesədʒ/

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

missingadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsɪŋ/

not able to be found

From this reading The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.

Mme

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

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

rankledverbUS /ˈræŋkəld/

past form of “rankle” — gnaw into; make resentful or angry

From this reading The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.

refusedverbUS /rəˈfjuːzd/

past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

respectnounUS /rɪˈspekt/

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

seemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading But this man was my master, my chief, in whose service I had engaged.

showingnounUS /ˈʃoʊɪŋ/

the display of a motion picture

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.

StrangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

Stäel

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

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.

titlenounUS /ˈtaɪtəl/

a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with

From this reading Strange enough it may seem to give John Calhoun any title showing love or respect.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But this man was my master, my chief, in whose service I had engaged.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Had it been another man who asked me to carry this message, I must have refused.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading But this man was my master, my chief, in whose service I had engaged.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The thought of missing my meeting with Elisabeth still rankled in my soul.

womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/

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

From this reading IN ARGUMENT The egotism of women is always for two.--_Mme. De Stäel_.

Chapter 2 of 54-40 or Fight by Emerson Hough holds 39 sentences, grouped into 8 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 2 of 54-40 or Fight contain?

Chapter 2 holds 39 sentences of 54-40 or Fight, unabridged, divided into 8 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of 54-40 or Fight by Emerson Hough exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 39 sentences, grouped into 8 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 2 of 54-40 or Fight?

Work through the 8 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 8 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading 54-40 or Fight

Common questions about reading 54-40 or Fight by Emerson Hough on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of 54-40 or Fight?

Yes. All 6480 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #14355 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of 54-40 or Fight is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #14355, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does 54-40 or Fight take to read?

About 540 minutes of reading across 1296 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read 54-40 or Fight section by section

How to work through 54-40 or Fight section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 35 chapters of 54-40 or Fight to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in 54-40 or Fight

Words and structures a reader meets early in 54-40 or Fight, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Climes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of 54-40 or Fight; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Woman
A word that appears in the opening chapter of 54-40 or Fight; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Great
A word that appears in the opening chapter of 54-40 or Fight; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Genius
A word that appears in the opening chapter of 54-40 or Fight; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.