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Bat Wing Bowles
Bat Wing Bowles

Chapter XXIII

Cover illustration for Bat Wing Bowles
Context Illustration Reading 1/51 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
"The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
"I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!
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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.

Bat Wing Bowles

Chapter XXIII

Reading 1/51 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
Line 2
His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
Line 3
Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
Line 4
"The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
Line 5
"I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.”

Blood noun US /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.”

Body noun US /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.”

Precious adjective US /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading “His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.”

All words in this reading · 89

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 His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

achieve

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

all

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

any

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.

Atkins

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

From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.

Bat

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

blaming

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

blank-blanked

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

From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

bodynounUS /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

Bowles

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

bronks

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

carpet-beater

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

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

Certainly

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

corporeal

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

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

COUNTRY

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

cursed

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

From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.

CUSTOM

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

dirt

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

Dunbar

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

From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.

fame

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

Far

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

felt

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

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

frame

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

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

fro

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

From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

gazing

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

From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.

got

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

greenhorn

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

From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

hard-earned

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

Hardy

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

From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.

hawse

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

From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

hope

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

hulk

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

From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

illusions

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

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

im

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

From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

keep

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

From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

lost

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

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

most

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

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

nose

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

now

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

off

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

From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!

out

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

pacing

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

From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

riding

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

shaken

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

some

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

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

spirit

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

tenderfoot

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

there

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

tol

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

From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!

troubles

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

up

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

way

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

West

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.

Wing

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

From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.

wipe

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

From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.