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Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi
Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."
"Well," said my friend, "I did not bet for myself."
I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.
He consented, and my friend got out $100; but Ryan said, "No; I will not bet less than $500."
I said to my friend, "If you have not got the money, I will loan it to you; and if you only win one small bet, he will not bet with you again."
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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.

Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."
Line 2
"Well," said my friend, "I did not bet for myself."
/wel sed maɪ frend aɪ dɪd nɑːt bet fɔːr ˌmaɪˈself/
Line 3
I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.
Line 4
He consented, and my friend got out $100; but Ryan said, "No; I will not bet less than $500."
Line 5
I said to my friend, "If you have not got the money, I will loan it to you; and if you only win one small bet, he will not bet with you again."
/aɪ sed tuː maɪ frend ɪf juː hæv nɑːt ɡɑːt ðə ˈmʌni aɪ wɪl loʊn ɪt tuː juː ənd ɪf juː ˈoʊnli wɪn wʌn smɔːl bet hiː wɪl nɑːt bet wɪð juː əˈɡen/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

beat verb US /biːt/

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading “Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."”

bet verb US /bet/

maintain with or as if with a bet

From this reading “"Well," said my friend, "I did not bet for myself."”

coaxed verb US /koʊkst/

past form of “coax” — influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

From this reading “I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.”

consented verb US /kənˈsentɪd/

past form of “consent” — give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to

From this reading “He consented, and my friend got out $100; but Ryan said, "No; I will not bet less than $500."”

entitled adjective US /enˈtaɪtəld/

qualified for by right according to law

From this reading “I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.”

loan noun US /loʊn/

the temporary provision of money (usually at interest)

From this reading “I said to my friend, "If you have not got the money, I will loan it to you; and if you only win one small bet, he will not bet with you again."”

pleasantly adverb US /ˈplezəntli/

in a cheerful manner

From this reading “Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."”

win verb US /wɪn/

be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious

From this reading “I said to my friend, "If you have not got the money, I will loan it to you; and if you only win one small bet, he will not bet with you again."”

All words in this reading · 62

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

100

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

From this reading He consented, and my friend got out $100; but Ryan said, "No; I will not bet less than $500."

500

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

From this reading He consented, and my friend got out $100; but Ryan said, "No; I will not bet less than $500."

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading I said to my friend, "If you have not got the money, I will loan it to you; and if you only win one small bet, he will not bet with you again."

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.

beatverbUS /biːt/

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

betverbUS /bet/

maintain with or as if with a bet

From this reading "Well," said my friend, "I did not bet for myself."

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

coaxedverbUS /koʊkst/

past form of “coax” — influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

From this reading I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.

consentedverbUS /kənˈsentɪd/

past form of “consent” — give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to

From this reading He consented, and my friend got out $100; but Ryan said, "No; I will not bet less than $500."

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading "Well," said my friend, "I did not bet for myself."

entitledadjectiveUS /enˈtaɪtəld/

qualified for by right according to law

From this reading I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Well," said my friend, "I did not bet for myself."

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading He consented, and my friend got out $100; but Ryan said, "No; I will not bet less than $500."

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I said to my friend, "If you have not got the money, I will loan it to you; and if you only win one small bet, he will not bet with you again."

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I said to my friend, "If you have not got the money, I will loan it to you; and if you only win one small bet, he will not bet with you again."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

laughingadjectiveUS /ˈlæfɪŋ/

showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading He consented, and my friend got out $100; but Ryan said, "No; I will not bet less than $500."

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.

loannounUS /loʊn/

the temporary provision of money (usually at interest)

From this reading I said to my friend, "If you have not got the money, I will loan it to you; and if you only win one small bet, he will not bet with you again."

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading "Well," said my friend, "I did not bet for myself."

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading He consented, and my friend got out $100; but Ryan said, "No; I will not bet less than $500."

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "Well," said my friend, "I did not bet for myself."

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading I said to my friend, "If you have not got the money, I will loan it to you; and if you only win one small bet, he will not bet with you again."

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He consented, and my friend got out $100; but Ryan said, "No; I will not bet less than $500."

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

pleasantlyadverbUS /ˈplezəntli/

in a cheerful manner

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

Ryan

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

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading I said to my friend, "If you have not got the money, I will loan it to you; and if you only win one small bet, he will not bet with you again."

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He consented, and my friend got out $100; but Ryan said, "No; I will not bet less than $500."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

tryverbUS /traɪ/

make an effort or attempt

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I coaxed Ryan to let him bet, as he was entitled to one bet at least.

WelladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Well," said my friend, "I did not bet for myself."

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading He consented, and my friend got out $100; but Ryan said, "No; I will not bet less than $500."

winverbUS /wɪn/

be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious

From this reading I said to my friend, "If you have not got the money, I will loan it to you; and if you only win one small bet, he will not bet with you again."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Ryan took it very pleasantly, laughing all the time, so my friend thought he would try it with his own money, but Ryan said: "You beat me once, and you know what I said."

Chapter 5 of Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi by George H. Devol holds 425 sentences, grouped into 85 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 5 of Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi contain?

Chapter 5 holds 425 sentences of Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi by George H. Devol exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 425 sentences, grouped into 85 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 5 of Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi

Common questions about reading Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi by George H. Devol on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi?

Yes. All 5475 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #23587 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #23587, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi take to read?

About 456 minutes of reading across 1095 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi

Words and structures a reader meets early in Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Typesetting
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Errors
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Corrected
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Appear
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.