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Bull Hunter
Bull Hunter

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for Bull Hunter
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.
In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.
In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.
Yet he had small grounds for his hopes.
Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.
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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.

Bull Hunter

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.
Line 2
In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.
Line 3
In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.
Line 4
Yet he had small grounds for his hopes.
Line 5
Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

Learner Dictionary

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

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.”

Reasons noun US /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading “There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.”

Step noun US /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet he had small grounds for his hopes.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

accomplishing

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.

away

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

back

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

Bull

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

cowardly

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

From this reading In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.

dark

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

felt

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

From this reading In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

freeing

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

From this reading In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.

friable

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

grounds

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

From this reading Yet he had small grounds for his hopes.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Yet he had small grounds for his hopes.

happiness

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

hope

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

hopes

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

From this reading Yet he had small grounds for his hopes.

Hunter

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

imputation

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

From this reading In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

jail

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

joy

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

From this reading In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.

keen

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

killing

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

liberating

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

lightened

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

man

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

marks

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

mission

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

murder

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

From this reading In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

off

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

only

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

own

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

peculiar

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

From this reading In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.

place

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

proof

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

rain

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

Reeve

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

rub

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

sandstorm

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

saw

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

From this reading In the first place he saw a hope of liberating Reeve from jail and accomplishing his own mission of killing the man.

second

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

From this reading In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.

shower

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

small

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

From this reading Yet he had small grounds for his hopes.

stepnounUS /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

stone

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

strode

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

There

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the second place he felt a peculiar joy at the thought of freeing such a man from the imputation of a cowardly murder.

town

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

two

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

wash

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading There were two reasons for the happiness which lightened the step of Bull Hunter as he strode back for the town.

white

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Two little dark marks on the white, friable stone, marks that the first small shower of rain would wash away, marks that the first keen sandstorm would rub off--this was his only proof.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet he had small grounds for his hopes.