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The Main Chance
The Main Chance

Chapter XXVII

Cover illustration for The Main Chance
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.
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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 Main Chance

Chapter XXVII

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
Line 2
Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
Line 3
He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
Line 4
He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
Line 5
He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.”

BROKEN noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.”

Continued noun US /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading “He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.”

Crawling noun US /ˈcrawling/

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

From this reading “He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.”

Pulled noun US /pulled/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.”

All words in this reading · 91

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 BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

aside

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

bolted

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

BROKENnounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

business

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

car

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

Clarkson

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

Coal

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

combination

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

Company

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

composure

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

From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.

consulted

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

From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.

continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

crawling

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

crowded

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

day

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

deal

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

delayed

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

dirty

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

door

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

down-town

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

envelope

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

From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.

expected

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

four-foot

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

GLASS

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

hastily

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

hurry

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

interest

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

John

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

Kansas

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

kicked

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

knelt

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

limits

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.

longer

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

mail

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

mining

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

more

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

From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.

Neponset

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

office

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

opened

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

out

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

From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.

pullednounUS /pulled/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.

rattling

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

reached

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

rustled

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

safe

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

Saxton

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

sleeper

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

station

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

suit-case

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

swung

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

then

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

From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.

there

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

things

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.

Trust

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

tumblers

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

veins

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

From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

watch

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

From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.

wear

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.

worse

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

From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.