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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
also
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From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
Author
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From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
B
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From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
boss
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From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
carrying
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From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
Cliff
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From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
contract
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From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
couldn't
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From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
demonstrated
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From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
drifting
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From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
etc
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From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
freighting
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From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
fully
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From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
GoodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
handle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
held
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From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
hired
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From this reading “You’re hired,” said McCarthy.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
hitch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
idea
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From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
job
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
McCarthy
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From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
Morgan
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From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
mule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
mules
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
Mutt
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From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
needin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
nowhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
o
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
ore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
outfit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
plain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
premium
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
Q
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
Red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
said
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From this reading “You’re hired,” said McCarthy.
scalpin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
sheath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
six-mule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
skinners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
Tom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
wagon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
what's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
ye're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
You're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’re hired,” said McCarthy.
