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The Main Chance
The Main Chance

Chapter XXXVIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/6 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.
As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.
After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.
He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.
He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.
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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 XXXVIII

Reading 1/6 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.
Line 2
As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.
Line 3
After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.
Line 4
He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.
Line 5
He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

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 “After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.”

Insisted verb US /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/

demanded something firmly

From this reading “SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.”

Reasons noun US /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading “He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.”

Responsible adjective US /rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/

having a duty to protect or manage something

From this reading “He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.”

All words in this reading · 84

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 He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.

almost

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

From this reading After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.

also

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

annual

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

any

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

brute

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

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

BURDENS

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

called

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

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

care

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

Company

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

complained

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

concluded

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

From this reading After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.

continue

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

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

control

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

deal

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

difficult

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

From this reading After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.

directorate

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

easy

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

effort

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

From this reading After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.

face

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

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

fact

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

Fenton

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

friends

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

general

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

ineffectual

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

From this reading After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.

insistedverbUS /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/

demanded something firmly

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

invested

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

manager

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

Margrave

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

meeting

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

money

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

negotiated

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

offered

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

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

offers

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

persistent

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

political

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

Porter

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

position

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

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

price

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

prior

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

purchase

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

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

responsibleadjectiveUS /rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/

having a duty to protect or manage something

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

Saxton

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

Saxton's

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

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

several

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

From this reading After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.

SHIFTED

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

stubborn

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

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

there

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

Traction

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

trader

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

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

Transcontinental

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

wanted

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

From this reading He still wanted to control the company for political reasons, but there was also the fact of his having invested the money of several of his friends in the Transcontinental directorate, prior to the last annual meeting.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading SHIFTED BURDENS Porter insisted that Margrave should not have the Traction Company at any price, though the general manager of the Transcontinental was persistent in his offers.

weeks

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

From this reading After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading After several weeks of ineffectual effort he concluded that Fenton and Saxton were almost as difficult.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading As Margrave did not care to deal with Porter, who was not, he complained, "an easy trader," he negotiated with Fenton and Saxton.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He called Saxton a "stubborn brute" to Saxton's face; but offered to continue him in a responsible position with the company if he would help him with the purchase.