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A Man Four-Square
A Man Four-Square

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for A Man Four-Square
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.
He paid off his men and let them shift for themselves.
Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.
He had money in his pocket and youth in his heart.
The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.
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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.

A Man Four-Square

Chapter XX

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.
Line 2
He paid off his men and let them shift for themselves.
Line 3
Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.
Line 4
He had money in his pocket and youth in his heart.
Line 5
The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.”

Couple noun US /ˈkʌpəl/

two people or things considered together

From this reading “Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “He paid off his men and let them shift for themselves.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “He paid off his men and let them shift for themselves.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

attenuated

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

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

back

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

beeves

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

Billie

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

chose

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

cleaned

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

contract

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/

two people or things considered together

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

cut

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

day

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

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

delivered

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

dollars

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

dozen

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

employed

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

endured

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

fall

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

farcical

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

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He paid off his men and let them shift for themselves.

Fort

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

fortitude

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had money in his pocket and youth in his heart.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

heart

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

From this reading He had money in his pocket and youth in his heart.

heavy

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

horse

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

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

inflict

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

inspector

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

late

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

lengths

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

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading He paid off his men and let them shift for themselves.

Los

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

Man

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

men

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

From this reading He paid off his men and let them shift for themselves.

money

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

From this reading He had money in his pocket and youth in his heart.

months

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

off

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

From this reading He paid off his men and let them shift for themselves.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

paid

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

From this reading He paid off his men and let them shift for themselves.

pocket

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

From this reading He had money in his pocket and youth in his heart.

Portales

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

reservation

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

rode

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

secured

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

shadows

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

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

shift

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

From this reading He paid off his men and let them shift for themselves.

street

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

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

sunlight

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

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

teams

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He paid off his men and let them shift for themselves.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading He paid off his men and let them shift for themselves.

thousand

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

Two-Gun

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

up

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

waning

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

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

Webb

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The day was waning as he rode up the street and in the sunlight the shadows of himself and his horse were attenuated to farcical lengths.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A Two-Gun Man Webb delivered his beeves at the Fort and endured with what fortitude he could the heavy cut which the inspector chose to inflict on him.

wood

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

From this reading Billie secured a wood contract at the reservation, employed half a dozen men and teams, cleaned up a thousand dollars in a couple of months, and rode back to Los Portales in the late fall.

youth

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

From this reading He had money in his pocket and youth in his heart.