Chapter XI · Chapter 11

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

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

a feeling of delighted approval and liking

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

the whole amount

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

in the past

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

(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 THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

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

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

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

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

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

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

cause to be bored

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

to strive with determination

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading He was a favourite topic of conversation and they talked of him naturally, readily, and Mrs. Smith, fluently.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

-ing form of “denounce” — speak out against

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

with eagerness; in an eager manner

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

a happening that is distinctive in a series of related events

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

(informal) strikingly unconventional

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

a competitor thought likely to win

From this reading He was a favourite topic of conversation and they talked of him naturally, readily, and Mrs. Smith, fluently.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

in a fluent manner

From this reading He was a favourite topic of conversation and they talked of him naturally, readily, and Mrs. Smith, fluently.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

the state of being friends (or friendly)

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

a young female

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

an estimate based on little or no information

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

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

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

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

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

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

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

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

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

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

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

in a close manner

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

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

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

the force of workers available

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading He was a favourite topic of conversation and they talked of him naturally, readily, and Mrs. Smith, fluently.

as might be expected

From this reading He was a favourite topic of conversation and they talked of him naturally, readily, and Mrs. Smith, fluently.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

and nothing more

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

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

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

without much difficulty

From this reading He was a favourite topic of conversation and they talked of him naturally, readily, and Mrs. Smith, fluently.

past form of “recount” — narrate or give a detailed account of

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

the state of being held in high esteem and honor

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

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

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading He was a favourite topic of conversation and they talked of him naturally, readily, and Mrs. Smith, fluently.

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

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

in a swift manner

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading He was a favourite topic of conversation and they talked of him naturally, readily, and Mrs. Smith, fluently.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

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

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

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

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

American architect (1759-1828)

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

past form of “tinge” — affect as in thought or feeling

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

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

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading He was a favourite topic of conversation and they talked of him naturally, readily, and Mrs. Smith, fluently.

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

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

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

at the time that

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

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

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

which person or people

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading THE BEDLOE BOYS All thoughts of denouncing Buck Thornton before these people fled before the girl had followed the rancher's wife into the cabin.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

in the company of; together with

From this reading They spoke of him only in tones warm with friendship and with something more than mere friendship, an admiration that was tinged with respect.

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

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading She recounted, not guessing how eagerly the girl was listening to every word, many an episode which in the aggregate had given him the reputation he bore throughout these wild miles of cattle land, the reputation of a man who was hard, hard as rock "on the outside," as she put it, hard inside, too, when they drove him to it, but naturally as soft-hearted as a baby.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading They had known him since first he had come into this country, and although that had been only a little more than a year ago, they had grown to know him as men and women in these far-out places come to know each other, swiftly, intimately.