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The Killer
The Killer

Chapter XXXIX

Cover illustration for The Killer
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.
Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.
They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.
Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.
We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.
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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.

The Killer

Chapter XXXIX

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.
Line 2
Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.
Line 3
They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.
Line 4
Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.
Line 5
We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

Learner Dictionary

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

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.”

Drink noun US /drink/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.”

All words in this reading · 96

Every word is available to listen to. 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 We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

admitted

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

affection

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

all

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

From this reading They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.

also

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

From this reading Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.

analysis

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

From this reading Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

anecdotal

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

anecdotes

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

From this reading Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.

back

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

big

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

Chinatown

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

Chinese

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

clubs

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

concerning

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

cordially

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

customs

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

From this reading They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.

dailies

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

delicate

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

discursions

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

From this reading Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.

discursive

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

drink

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

empirical

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

everywhere

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

exclusive

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

externals

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

eyes

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

facts

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

From this reading They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.

food

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

gather

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

generally

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

get

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

glimpse

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

gratis

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

greeted

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

HEATHEN

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

how

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

knowledge

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

knows

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.

machinery

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

mainly

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

men

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

more

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

moves

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

much

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

only

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

patted

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

queer

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

From this reading They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.

rarely

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

really

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

reporters

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

show

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

From this reading They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.

Some

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

sorts

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

From this reading They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.

strange

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

there

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.

things

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

From this reading They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading THE HEATHEN This must be mainly discursive and anecdotal, for no one really knows much more than externals concerning the Chinese.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

tongs

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

treated

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

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

twinkling

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

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

unknown

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

From this reading They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.

unusual

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

From this reading They can tell you of all sorts of queer, unknown customs and facts, and can show you all sorts of strange and unusual things.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We gather empirical knowledge: only rarely do we think we get a glimpse of how the delicate machinery moves behind those twinkling eyes.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet at the last analysis these are also discursions and anecdotes.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Some men there are, generally reporters on the big dailies, who have been admitted to the tongs; who can take you into the exclusive Chinese clubs; who are everywhere in Chinatown greeted cordially, treated gratis to strange food and drink, and patted on the back with every appearance of affection.