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Chapter I
At poker, Rafferty knew he could beat any man alive. Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy.... Rafferty was a gambler of the old school. He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs. Give him a good poker game any time, and he would be happy.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “At poker, Rafferty knew he could beat any man alive.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Give him a good poker game any time, and he would be happy.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Give him a good poker game any time, and he would be happy.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Give him a good poker game any time, and he would be happy.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At poker, Rafferty knew he could beat any man alive.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At poker, Rafferty knew he could beat any man alive.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At poker, Rafferty knew he could beat any man alive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Give him a good poker game any time, and he would be happy.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At poker, Rafferty knew he could beat any man alive.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At poker, Rafferty knew he could beat any man alive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rafferty was a gambler of the old school.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Give him a good poker game any time, and he would be happy.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Give him a good poker game any time, and he would be happy.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Give him a good poker game any time, and he would be happy.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Give him a good poker game any time, and he would be happy.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At poker, Rafferty knew he could beat any man alive.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Give him a good poker game any time, and he would be happy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At poker, Rafferty knew he could beat any man alive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At poker, Rafferty knew he could beat any man alive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Rafferty was a gambler of the old school.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rafferty was a gambler of the old school.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At poker, Rafferty knew he could beat any man alive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At poker, Rafferty knew he could beat any man alive.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rafferty was a gambler of the old school.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Give him a good poker game any time, and he would be happy.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, needing money badly, he walked into the Ganymede Casino looking for a patsy....
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Rafferty was a gambler of the old school.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He didn't believe in any of the fancy electronic gadgets that the casinos went in for these days, didn't much care for the psionic games of chance and other tricky and probably rigged affairs.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Give him a good poker game any time, and he would be happy.
