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Twenty years a fakir
Twenty years a fakir

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of Twenty years a fakir is here in full — 151 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.
Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.
I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.
It was positively my first experience of the kind.
At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?
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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.

Twenty years a fakir

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of Twenty years a fakir is here in full — 151 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.
Line 2
Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.
Line 3
I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.
/aɪ bɪˈliːv aɪ hæv bɪn ˈbʌstɪd mɔːr taɪmz ðæn ˈeni ˈʌðər mæn ɑːn ɜːrθ ənd aɪ æm ʃʊr ðæt ðə dɪˈziːz ˈnevər ˈelswer strʌk miː wɪð hæf ðə ˈstʌnɪŋ fɔːrs ðen ɪt dɪd wen əˈdrɪft ənd əˈloʊn ɪn ðə striːts ʌv ˈdævənpɔːrt/
Line 4
It was positively my first experience of the kind.
/ɪt wɑːz ˈpɑːzətɪvli maɪ fɜːrst ɪkˈspɪriəns ʌv ðə kaɪnd/
Line 5
At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?
/æt hoʊm ɪt wɑːz ˈnʌθɪŋ streɪndʒ tuː hæv æn ˈempti ˈpɑːkət frʌm wʌn wiːks end tuː əˈnʌðər bʌt wʌt ʌv ðæt/

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.

adrift adjective US /əˈdrɪft/

aimlessly drifting

From this reading “I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.”

busted adjective US /ˈbʌstɪd/

out of working order (“busted” is an informal substitute for “broken”)

From this reading “BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.”

Davenport noun US /ˈdævənpɔːrt/

a city in eastern Iowa on the Mississippi River across from Moline and Rock Island

From this reading “I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.”

haystack noun US /ˈheɪstæk/

a stack of hay

From this reading “BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.”

shortness noun US /ˈʃɔːrtnəs/

the property of being of short spatial extent

From this reading “Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.”

stunning adjective US /ˈstʌnɪŋ/

commanding attention

From this reading “I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.”

theatres noun US /ˈθiːətərz/

plural of “theatre” — a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented

From this reading “BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.”

week's noun US /wiːks/

possessive form of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

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.

empty pocket verb + noun

In this reading “At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?”

on earth preposition + noun

used with question words to convey surprise

In this reading “I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.”

At home preposition + noun

a reception held in your own home

In this reading “At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?”

on the road preposition + article + noun counted as “on … road”

travelling about

In this reading “Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.”

in the streets preposition + article + noun counted as “in … street”

In this reading “I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.”

other man adjective + noun

In this reading “I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.”

All words in this reading · 88

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.

ACTORSnounUS /ˈæktərz/

plural of “actor” — a theatrical performer

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

adriftadjectiveUS /əˈdrɪft/

aimlessly drifting

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

BILLSnounUS /bɪlz/

plural of “bill” — a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

BUSTEDadjectiveUS /ˈbʌstɪd/

out of working order (“busted” is an informal substitute for “broken”)

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

cashnounUS /kæʃ/

money in the form of bills or coins

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

DavenportnounUS /ˈdævənpɔːrt/

a city in eastern Iowa on the Mississippi River across from Moline and Rock Island

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

diseasenounUS /dɪˈziːz/

an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

elsewhereadverbUS /ˈelswer/

in or to another place

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

emptyverbUS /ˈempti/

make void or empty of contents

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

experienceverbUS /ɪkˈspɪriəns/

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading It was positively my first experience of the kind.

experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/

plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

FAKIRnoun

a Muslim or Hindu mendicant monk who is regarded as a holy man

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was positively my first experience of the kind.

forcenounUS /fɔːrs/

a powerful effect or influence

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

FREEverbUS /friː/

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

FRIENDLYadjectiveUS /ˈfrendli/

characteristic of or befitting a friend

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

HAYSTACKnounUS /ˈheɪstæk/

a stack of hay

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

JUMPINGnounUS /ˈdʒʌmpɪŋ/

the act of participating in an athletic competition in which you must jump

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading It was positively my first experience of the kind.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading It was positively my first experience of the kind.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

OTHERadjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

peculiaradjectiveUS /pəˈkjuːljər/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

PENnounUS /pen/

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

pocketnounUS /ˈpɑːkət/

a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

positivelyadverbUS /ˈpɑːzətɪvli/

extremely

From this reading It was positively my first experience of the kind.

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

rustled

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

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

SCHEMEnounUS /skiːm/

an elaborate and systematic plan of action

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

shortnessnounUS /ˈʃɔːrtnəs/

the property of being of short spatial extent

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

SIGNSnounUS /saɪnz/

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

SOAPnounUS /soʊp/

a cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

STREETnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

streetsnounUS /striːts/

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

stunningadjectiveUS /ˈstʌnɪŋ/

commanding attention

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

TALKverbUS /tɔːk/

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

THEATRESnounUS /ˈθiːətərz/

plural of “theatre” — a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

TWOnounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

WALKINGadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/

close enough to be walked to

From this reading BUSTED—SOAP SIGNS—WALKING—THE TWO ACTORS—FREE THEATRES—JUMPING BILLS—THE OTHER FAKIR—PEN SCHEME—STREET TALK—THE FRIENDLY HAYSTACK.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was positively my first experience of the kind.

week'snounUS /wiːks/

possessive form of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading At home it was nothing strange to have an empty pocket from one week’s end to another; but what of that?

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I believe I have been “busted” more times than any other man on earth; and I am sure that the disease never elsewhere struck me with half the stunning force then it did when adrift and alone in the streets of Davenport.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Every man who has ever rustled on the road has had his experiences with that peculiar disease known as shortness of cash.

Chapter 3 of Twenty years a fakir by S. James Weldon holds 151 sentences, grouped into 31 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 3 of Twenty years a fakir contain?

Chapter 3 holds 151 sentences of Twenty years a fakir, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Twenty years a fakir by S. James Weldon exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 151 sentences, grouped into 31 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 3 of Twenty years a fakir?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Twenty years a fakir

Common questions about reading Twenty years a fakir by S. James Weldon on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Twenty years a fakir?

Yes. All 3041 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #70066 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Twenty years a fakir is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #70066, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Twenty years a fakir take to read?

About 253 minutes of reading across 609 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Twenty years a fakir section by section

How to work through Twenty years a fakir section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 21 chapters of Twenty years a fakir 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 Twenty years a fakir

Words and structures a reader meets early in Twenty years a fakir, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Novelty
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Twenty years a fakir; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Company
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Twenty years a fakir; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Omaha
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Twenty years a fakir; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Twenty
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Twenty years a fakir; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.