Chapter 20 of Lady Luck is here in full — 253 sentences across 51 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XX
Chapter 20 of Lady Luck is here in full — 253 sentences across 51 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
1. A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him. "Wilecat, does us miss de meetin' Ah loses a hund'ed dollahs. Grab yo' vittles an' eat on de run!" "Whut time is you due at de Temple?"
Chapter 20 of Lady Luck is here in full — 253 sentences across 51 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/50 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading “A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.”
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading “A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.”
an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
From this reading “A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.”
take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
From this reading “Grab yo' vittles an' eat on de run!"”
third-person singular of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading “"Wilecat, does us miss de meetin' Ah loses a hund'ed dollahs.”
plural of “responsibility” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading “A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.”
a brass instrument consisting of a long tube whose length can be varied by a U-shaped slide
From this reading “A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.”
an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field
From this reading “A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
In this reading “A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.”
In this reading “A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.”
In this reading “A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 1.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Wilecat, does us miss de meetin' Ah loses a hund'ed dollahs.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Grab yo' vittles an' eat on de run!"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading "Wilecat, does us miss de meetin' Ah loses a hund'ed dollahs.
an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Wilecat, does us miss de meetin' Ah loses a hund'ed dollahs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Wilecat, does us miss de meetin' Ah loses a hund'ed dollahs.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading "Whut time is you due at de Temple?"
take in solid food
From this reading Grab yo' vittles an' eat on de run!"
set up or found
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
From this reading Grab yo' vittles an' eat on de run!"
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Wilecat, does us miss de meetin' Ah loses a hund'ed dollahs.
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Whut time is you due at de Temple?"
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
third-person singular of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading "Wilecat, does us miss de meetin' Ah loses a hund'ed dollahs.
take the midday meal
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Wilecat, does us miss de meetin' Ah loses a hund'ed dollahs.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Wilecat, does us miss de meetin' Ah loses a hund'ed dollahs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Grab yo' vittles an' eat on de run!"
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
plural of “responsibility” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Grab yo' vittles an' eat on de run!"
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading "Whut time is you due at de Temple?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Whut time is you due at de Temple?"
a brass instrument consisting of a long tube whose length can be varied by a U-shaped slide
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Wilecat, does us miss de meetin' Ah loses a hund'ed dollahs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grab yo' vittles an' eat on de run!"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Whut time is you due at de Temple?"
an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field
From this reading A little late at the Sutter Street lunch counter by reason of his added responsibilities at the dock, the Wildcat had found his friend Trombone impatiently awaiting him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Wilecat, does us miss de meetin' Ah loses a hund'ed dollahs.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grab yo' vittles an' eat on de run!"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Whut time is you due at de Temple?"
Chapter 20 of Lady Luck by Hugh Wiley holds 253 sentences, grouped into 51 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.
Chapter 20 holds 253 sentences of Lady Luck, unabridged, divided into 51 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 20 of Lady Luck by Hugh Wiley exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 253 sentences, grouped into 51 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.
Work through the 51 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 51 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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.
Common questions about reading Lady Luck by Hugh Wiley on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4131 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #26165 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #26165, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 344 minutes of reading across 827 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Lady Luck section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 20 chapters of Lady Luck to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Lady Luck, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
