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You can't win
You can't win

Chapter XIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.
In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.
My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.
My evenings were my own and I spent them on the Barbary Coast or the water front.
With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.
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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.

You can't win

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.
Line 2
In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.
Line 3
My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.
Line 4
My evenings were my own and I spent them on the Barbary Coast or the water front.
Line 5
With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

Learner Dictionary

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

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.”

Seafaring adjective US /ˈsiːferɪŋ/

connected with travelling or working at sea

From this reading “With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.”

Silver noun US /silver/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.”

All words in this reading · 102

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 During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

absence

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

adventure

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

all

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

ate

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

away

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

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

Barbary

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

From this reading My evenings were my own and I spent them on the Barbary Coast or the water front.

bettering

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

boarding

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

box

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

brawny

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

brown

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

called

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

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

clerks

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

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

Coast

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

From this reading My evenings were my own and I spent them on the Barbary Coast or the water front.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

day

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

days

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

depositor

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

dollar

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

drank

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

duplicate

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

evenings

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

From this reading My evenings were my own and I spent them on the Barbary Coast or the water front.

filled

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

following

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

fought

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

front

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

From this reading My evenings were my own and I spent them on the Barbary Coast or the water front.

get

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

go

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

hardship

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

houses

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

industriously

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

instances

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

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

instructions

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

keys

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

languages

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

loved

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

making

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

men

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

money

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

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

most

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

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

occupy

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

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

old

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading My evenings were my own and I spent them on the Barbary Coast or the water front.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading My evenings were my own and I spent them on the Barbary Coast or the water front.

out

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

own

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

From this reading My evenings were my own and I spent them on the Barbary Coast or the water front.

refunded

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

renting

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

room

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

rooms

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

safety

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

sailors

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

Sanc's

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

sang

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

sea

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

seafaringadjectiveUS /ˈsiːferɪŋ/

connected with travelling or working at sea

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

seas

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

see

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

silver

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

sometimes

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

songs

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

speaking

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

spent

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

From this reading My evenings were my own and I spent them on the Barbary Coast or the water front.

strange

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

streets

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

suit

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

tales

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

tattooed

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

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

trying

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

twice

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

two

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.

visiting

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

water

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

From this reading My evenings were my own and I spent them on the Barbary Coast or the water front.

well

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading In most instances the clerks returned my money when I told them I was called away and could not occupy the rooms.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading With an old suit on and a dollar or two in silver I loved to go to the sailors’ boarding houses where seafaring men, brawny, brown, and tattooed, speaking all languages, ate, drank, fought, sang their strange sea songs, and told tales of hardship and adventure on all the seas.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

work

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

From this reading My days were well filled with work, renting two rooms, making two keys, trying to get my room money refunded and visiting the safety box twice a day, sometimes following a depositor out and around the streets to see what he did with his money.

worked

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

From this reading During Sanc’s absence I worked industriously, bettering his instructions by renting two rooms a day and making the duplicate keys.