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Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)
Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)

Chapter XXV · Chapter 25

Chapter 25 of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) is here in full — 378 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mark Twain • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)
Context Illustration Reading 1/75 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HARTFORD, Nov.
29, '89.
DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.
Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.
I don't want to dicker with anybody but Jones.
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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.

Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)

Chapter XXV · Chapter 25

Chapter 25 of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) is here in full — 378 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/75 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HARTFORD, Nov.
/ˈhɑːrtfərd noʊv/
Line 2
29, '89.
Line 3
DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.
Line 4
Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.
/ˈpeɪpərz ɑːr naʊ ˈbiːɪŋ drɔːn wɪtʃ wɪl ˈɡreɪtli ˈsɪmpləfaɪ ðə ˈreɪzɪŋ ʌv ˈkæpətəl aɪ ʃæl biː ɪn səˈpriːm kəˈmænd ɪt wɪl nɑːt biː ˈnesəseri fɔːr ðə ˈkæpətəlɪst tuː ərˈaɪv æt tɜːrmz wɪð ˈenibədi bʌt miː/
Line 5
I don't want to dicker with anybody but Jones.

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.

arrive verb US /ərˈaɪv/

reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading “Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
capitalist noun US /ˈkæpətəlɪst/

a conservative advocate of capitalism

From this reading “Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dicker verb US /ˈdɪkər/

negotiate the terms of an exchange

From this reading “I don't want to dicker with anybody but Jones.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flexible adjective US /ˈfleksəbəl/

capable of being changed

From this reading “DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hartford noun US /ˈhɑːrtfərd/

the state capital of Connecticut; located in central Connecticut on the Connecticut river; a center of the insurance business

From this reading “HARTFORD, Nov.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Nov noun US /noʊv/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading “HARTFORD, Nov.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
simplify verb US /ˈsɪmpləfaɪ/

make simpler or easier or reduce in complexity or extent

From this reading “Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
supreme adjective US /səˈpriːm/

final or last in your life or progress

From this reading “Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 52

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.

29

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

From this reading 29, '89.

Pending verification
89

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

From this reading 29, '89.

Pending verification
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
arriveverbUS /ərˈaɪv/

reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
capitalnounUS /ˈkæpətəl/

assets available for use in the production of further assets

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
capitalistnounUS /ˈkæpətəlɪst/

a conservative advocate of capitalism

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
commandnounUS /kəˈmænd/

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DEARadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dickerverbUS /ˈdɪkər/

negotiate the terms of an exchange

From this reading I don't want to dicker with anybody but Jones.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
don't

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

From this reading I don't want to dicker with anybody but Jones.

Pending verification
drawnadjectiveUS /drɔːn/

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
flexibleadjectiveUS /ˈfleksəbəl/

capable of being changed

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
gettingnounUS /ˈɡetɪŋ/

the act of acquiring something

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
greatlyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪtli/

to an extraordinary extent or degree

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HARTFORDnounUS /ˈhɑːrtfərd/

the state capital of Connecticut; located in central Connecticut on the Connecticut river; a center of the insurance business

From this reading HARTFORD, Nov.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JOE

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

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

Pending verification
JonesnounUS /dʒoʊnz/

United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)

From this reading I don't want to dicker with anybody but Jones.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
necessaryadjectiveUS /ˈnesəseri/

absolutely essential

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NovnounUS /noʊv/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading HARTFORD, Nov.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
PapersnounUS /ˈpeɪpərz/

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
raisingnounUS /ˈreɪzɪŋ/

the event of something being raised upward

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
shapenounUS /ʃeɪp/

any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
simplifyverbUS /ˈsɪmpləfaɪ/

make simpler or easier or reduce in complexity or extent

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/

final or last in your life or progress

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
termsnounUS /tɜːrmz/

status with respect to the relations between people or groups

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading DEAR JOE, Things are getting into better and more flexible shape every day.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading I don't want to dicker with anybody but Jones.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Papers are now being drawn which will greatly simplify the raising of capital; I shall be in supreme command; it will not be necessary for the capitalist to arrive at terms with anybody but me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 25 of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) by Mark Twain holds 378 sentences, grouped into 76 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 25 of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) contain?

Chapter 25 holds 378 sentences of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910), unabridged, divided into 76 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 25 of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) by Mark Twain exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 378 sentences, grouped into 76 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 25 of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)?

Work through the 76 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 76 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 25 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 25 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 Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)

Common questions about reading Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) by Mark Twain on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)?

Yes. All 14985 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3199 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3199, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2997 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) section by section

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Vocabulary met early in Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)

Words and structures a reader meets early in Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910), each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Twain
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Nowhere
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Human
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Being
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.