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Seventeen Years in the Underworld
Seventeen Years in the Underworld

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Seventeen Years in the Underworld is here in full — 51 sentences across 11 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.
A good front (appearance) in their line is essential to success.
The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.
Yet the crook takes the chance.
It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a stir (prison).
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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.

Seventeen Years in the Underworld

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Seventeen Years in the Underworld is here in full — 51 sentences across 11 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SOME TYPES OF CROOKS Thecon man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.
/sʌm taɪps ʌv krʊks ðə kɑːn mæn ðə bæŋk sniːk ðə ˈkaʊntərfɪtər ʌv noʊts ənd hɪz ˈælaɪz ðə ˈfɔːrdʒər ðə bɪɡ dɪp ənd ðə ˈbædʒər mæn ɑːr wʌt maɪt biː kɔːld ðə ərˈɪstəkræts ʌv ðə ˈʌndərwɜːrld bɪˈkɔːz ðer wɜːrk riˈkwaɪərz ɑːn ðer pɑːrt ˈɔːlweɪz ə ˈpɑːlɪʃt ɪkˈstɪriər/
Line 2
A goodfront” (appearance) in their line is essential to success.
/ə ɡʊd frʌnt əˈpɪrəns ɪn ðer laɪn ɪz eˈsenʃəl tuː səkˈses/
Line 3
The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.
/ðə ˈmɔːrnɪŋ sʌn meɪ siː ðə ˈkrɪmənəl ðə ˈækmi ʌv kənˈtentmənt ˈmʌni ɪn hɪz ˈpɑːkət ə smaɪl ɑːn hɪz feɪs ðə ˈiːvnɪŋ ˈʃædoʊz meɪ fɔːl ɑːn hɪm ˈpeɪsɪŋ ə sel ɪn sʌm dɪˈtenʃən haʊs/
Line 4
Yet the crook takes the chance.
/jet ðə krʊk teɪks ðə tʃæns/
Line 5
It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of astir” (prison).

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.

acme noun US /ˈækmi/

the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development

From this reading “The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.”

aristocrats noun US /ərˈɪstəkræts/

plural of “aristocrat” — a member of the aristocracy

From this reading “SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.”

badger verb US /ˈbædʒər/

annoy persistently

From this reading “SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.”

counterfeiter noun US /ˈkaʊntərfɪtər/

someone who makes copies illegally

From this reading “SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.”

crooks noun US /krʊks/

plural of “crook” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading “SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.”

detention noun US /dɪˈtenʃən/

a state of being confined (usually for a short time)

From this reading “The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.”

forger noun US /ˈfɔːrdʒər/

someone who operates a forge

From this reading “SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.”

underworld noun US /ˈʌndərwɜːrld/

the criminal class

From this reading “SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.”

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

morning sun noun + noun

In this reading “The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.”

fall on verb + particle

In this reading “The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.”

takes the chance verb + article + noun counted as “take … chance”

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

In this reading “Yet the crook takes the chance.”

All words in this reading · 81

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

acmenounUS /ˈækmi/

the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

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 It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

alliesnounUS /ˈælaɪz/

the alliance of nations that fought the Axis in World War II and which (with subsequent additions) signed the charter of the United Nations in 1945

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

appearancenounUS /əˈpɪrəns/

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading A good “front” (appearance) in their line is essential to success.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

aristocratsnounUS /ərˈɪstəkræts/

plural of “aristocrat” — a member of the aristocracy

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

badgerverbUS /ˈbædʒər/

annoy persistently

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

banknounUS /bæŋk/

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

cellnounUS /sel/

A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

chancenounUS /tʃæns/

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading Yet the crook takes the chance.

characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/

a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

connounUS /kɑːn/

an argument opposed to a proposal

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

contentmentnounUS /kənˈtentmənt/

happiness with one's situation in life

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

counterfeiternounUS /ˈkaʊntərfɪtər/

someone who makes copies illegally

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

criminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/

bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

crooknounUS /krʊk/

someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading Yet the crook takes the chance.

CROOKSnounUS /krʊks/

plural of “crook” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

detentionnounUS /dɪˈtenʃən/

a state of being confined (usually for a short time)

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

dipverbUS /dɪp/

immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/

absolutely necessary; vitally necessary

From this reading A good “front” (appearance) in their line is essential to success.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

exteriornounUS /ɪkˈstɪriər/

the region that is outside of something

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

fallverbUS /fɔːl/

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

forgernounUS /ˈfɔːrdʒər/

someone who operates a forge

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading A good “front” (appearance) in their line is essential to success.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading A good “front” (appearance) in their line is essential to success.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A good “front” (appearance) in their line is essential to success.

insideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A good “front” (appearance) in their line is essential to success.

It's

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

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

knowverbUS /noʊ/

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

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

linenounUS /laɪn/

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading A good “front” (appearance) in their line is essential to success.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

notesnounUS /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/

(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

peculiaradjectiveUS /pəˈkjuːljər/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

pocketnounUS /ˈpɑːkət/

a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/

perfected or made shiny and smooth

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

prisonnounUS /ˈprɪzən/

a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

requiresverbUS /riˈkwaɪərz/

third-person singular of “require” — require as useful, just, or proper

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

shadowsnounUS /ˈʃædoʊz/

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

smileverbUS /smaɪl/

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

sneakverbUS /sniːk/

to go stealthily or furtively

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

SOMEadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

sooneradverbUS /ˈsuːnər/

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

stirverbUS /stɜːr/

move an implement through

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

successnounUS /səkˈses/

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading A good “front” (appearance) in their line is essential to success.

sunnounUS /sʌn/

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading The morning sun may see the criminal the acme of contentment, money in his pocket, a smile on his face; the evening shadows may fall on him pacing a cell in some detention house.

takesnounUS /teɪks/

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading Yet the crook takes the chance.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

they'll

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

From this reading It’s a peculiar characteristic of all crooks, that sooner or later they know they’ll see the inside of a “stir” (prison).

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A good “front” (appearance) in their line is essential to success.

TYPESnounUS /taɪps/

plural of “type” — a subdivision of a particular kind of thing

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

underworldnounUS /ˈʌndərwɜːrld/

the criminal class

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading SOME TYPES OF CROOKS The “con man,” the bank sneak, the counterfeiter (of notes) and his allies, the forger, the big dip, and the badger man are what might be called the aristocrats of the underworld because their work requires on their part always a polished exterior.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet the crook takes the chance.

Chapter 12 of Seventeen Years in the Underworld by Wellington Scott holds 51 sentences, grouped into 11 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 12 of Seventeen Years in the Underworld contain?

Chapter 12 holds 51 sentences of Seventeen Years in the Underworld, unabridged, divided into 11 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Seventeen Years in the Underworld by Wellington Scott exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 51 sentences, grouped into 11 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 12 of Seventeen Years in the Underworld?

Work through the 11 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 11 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Seventeen Years in the Underworld

Common questions about reading Seventeen Years in the Underworld by Wellington Scott on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Seventeen Years in the Underworld?

Yes. All 1101 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #56443 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Seventeen Years in the Underworld is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #56443, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Seventeen Years in the Underworld take to read?

About 91 minutes of reading across 221 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Seventeen Years in the Underworld section by section

How to work through Seventeen Years in the Underworld section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 24 chapters of Seventeen Years in the Underworld to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Seventeen Years in the Underworld

Words and structures a reader meets early in Seventeen Years in the Underworld, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Sitting
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Seventeen Years in the Underworld; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Large
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Seventeen Years in the Underworld; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Eastern
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Seventeen Years in the Underworld; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Beautiful
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Seventeen Years in the Underworld; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.