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The Gentle Grafter
The Gentle Grafter

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for The Gentle Grafter
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.
There's too big a protective tariff on bunco.
Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.
And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.
But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.
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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.

The Gentle Grafter

Chapter XI

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.
Line 2
There's too big a protective tariff on bunco.
Line 3
Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.
Line 4
And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.
Line 5
But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.”

Double noun US /double/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.”

Duty noun US /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading “But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.”

Honest adjective US /ˈɑnɪst/

truthful and trustworthy

From this reading “It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

altar

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

Badville-near-Coney

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

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

big

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

From this reading There's too big a protective tariff on bunco.

bill

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

bunco

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

From this reading There's too big a protective tariff on bunco.

burg

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

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

capital

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

From this reading It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.

charges

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

chestnut

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

cop

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

double

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

duke

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.

Giovanni

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

grafter

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

From this reading It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.

hand

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

heiress

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑnɪst/

truthful and trustworthy

From this reading It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.

hotel

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

hulls

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

ideal

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

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

insectivorous

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

It's

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

From this reading It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.

man

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

marry

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

old

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

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There's too big a protective tariff on bunco.

out

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

patrol

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

pay

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

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

piece

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

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

pint

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

piracy

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

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

place

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

From this reading It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.

protective

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

From this reading There's too big a protective tariff on bunco.

quart

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

refined

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

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.

sells

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

sends

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

small

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

From this reading It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.

tariff

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

From this reading There's too big a protective tariff on bunco.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

There's

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

From this reading There's too big a protective tariff on bunco.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

too

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

From this reading There's too big a protective tariff on bunco.

wagon

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

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

warm

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading And the hotel man charges double for everything in the bill that he sends by the patrol wagon to the altar where the duke is about to marry the heiress.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It's no place for an honest grafter with a small capital.

worms

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

From this reading Even when Giovanni sells a quart of warm worms and chestnut hulls he has to hand out a pint to an insectivorous cop.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading But old Badville-near-Coney is the ideal burg for a refined piece of piracy if you can pay the bunco duty.