Chapter 1 of Side-stepping with Shorty is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Side-stepping with Shorty is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Notice any gold dust on my back? No? Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me. That's what it is to build up a rep. Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
Chapter 1 of Side-stepping with Shorty is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
plural of “ail” — aromatic bulb used as seasoning
From this reading “Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.”
plural of “bag” — a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading “Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.”
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading “That's what it is to build up a rep.”
provide a cure for, make healthy again
From this reading “Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.”
any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading “Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.”
plural of “print” — the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication
From this reading “Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.”
informal abbreviation of “representative”
From this reading “That's what it is to build up a rep.”
a large number or amount
From this reading “Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages
In this reading “That's what it is to build up a rep.”
In this reading “Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.”
In this reading “Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.”
In this reading “Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
plural of “ail” — aromatic bulb used as seasoning
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Notice any gold dust on my back?
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Notice any gold dust on my back?
plural of “bag” — a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading That's what it is to build up a rep.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
provide a cure for, make healthy again
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
remove the dust from
From this reading Notice any gold dust on my back?
any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
a quad with a square body
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
coins made of gold
From this reading Notice any gold dust on my back?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That's what it is to build up a rep.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That's what it is to build up a rep.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Notice any gold dust on my back?
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
not any; not one
From this reading No?
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Notice any gold dust on my back?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Notice any gold dust on my back?
above and across; more than
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
plural of “print” — the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
informal abbreviation of “representative”
From this reading That's what it is to build up a rep.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That's what it is to build up a rep.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That's what it is to build up a rep.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
a large number or amount
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That's what it is to build up a rep.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading Looks like all the fat wads in New York was gettin' to know about Shorty McCabe, and how I'm a sure cure for everything that ails 'em.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Well it's a wonder there ain't, for I've been up against the money bags so close I expect you can find eagle prints all over me.
Chapter 1 of Side-stepping with Shorty by Sewell Ford holds 417 sentences, grouped into 84 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.
Chapter 1 holds 417 sentences of Side-stepping with Shorty, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Side-stepping with Shorty by Sewell Ford exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 417 sentences, grouped into 84 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.
Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 84 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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.
Common questions about reading Side-stepping with Shorty by Sewell Ford on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4989 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #31659 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #31659, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 415 minutes of reading across 998 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Side-stepping with Shorty section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 12 chapters of Side-stepping with Shorty to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Side-stepping with Shorty, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
