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A Chance for Himself
A Chance for Himself

Chapter XXXVII

Cover illustration for A Chance for Himself
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A TURN OF FORTUNE.
SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.
The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.
His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.
He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’
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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 Chance for Himself

Chapter XXXVII

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A TURN OF FORTUNE.
Line 2
SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.
Line 3
The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.
Line 4
His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.
Line 5
He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.”

Anybody pronoun US /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading “The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.”

FORTUNE noun US /ˈfortune/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “A TURN OF FORTUNE.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.”

Handsome noun US /ˈhandsome/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’”

Merry noun US /merry/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.”

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.”

All words in this reading · 95

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 TURN OF FORTUNE.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

anecdote

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

better

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

capital

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

cartman

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

From this reading He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’

city

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

crowd

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

declined

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

drive

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

From this reading He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’

else

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

entered

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

expense

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

FORTUNEnounUS /ˈfortune/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading A TURN OF FORTUNE.

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

gallows

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

go

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

greatly

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

head

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

From this reading He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

horse

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

Jack

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

jail

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

joke

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

laughingly

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

lips

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

From this reading He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’

man

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

marry

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

merry

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

n

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

neighbors

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

nose

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

From this reading He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A TURN OF FORTUNE.

offered

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

own

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

pardon

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

preferring

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

rallied

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

relate

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

relish

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

remind

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

respectfully

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

said

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

sartin

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

says

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

From this reading He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’

SELLICK

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

Sharp

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

From this reading He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’

shook

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

From this reading He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

spirits

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading He looked at her, shook his head: ‘Sharp nose, thin lips,’ says he; ‘drive on, cartman!’

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

too

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

TURN

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

From this reading A TURN OF FORTUNE.

using

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

way

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

whip

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

woman

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

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.

working

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

From this reading SELLICK had a better horse than his neighbors, and he too had been using the whip a little since Jack respectfully declined working for him, preferring to go to jail.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The merry man could not help thinking what a capital anecdote this would be to relate of anybody else; but, as I have said, he did not greatly relish a joke at his own expense.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading His spirits rallied a little as they entered the city, and he said laughingly, “You remind me of the man on his way to the gallows, who was offered a free pardon if he would marry a sartin woman in the crowd, not over ’n’ above handsome.