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A Struggle for Rome, V. 1
A Struggle for Rome, V. 1

Chapter XXXIX

Cover illustration for A Struggle for Rome, V. 1
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.
Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.
He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.
We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.
Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Struggle for Rome, V. 1

Chapter XXXIX

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.
Line 2
Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.
Line 3
He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.
Line 4
We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.
Line 5
Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.”

Fortune noun US /ˈfortune/

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

From this reading “We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.”

Shadow noun US /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading “We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

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

From this reading “We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.”

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 shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

all

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

From this reading Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.

amiability

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

From this reading Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

begged

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

Belisarius

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

brilliant

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

Byzantines

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

catastrophe

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

commodore

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

Count

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

danger

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

defending

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

deprived

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

east

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

fate

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

favourite

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

friends

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

From this reading Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.

gods

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

Gothic

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

From this reading Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.

Goths

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

Government

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

happy

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

Harbour

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

how

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

impending

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.

irresistible

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

From this reading Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

Italians

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

Italy

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

From this reading Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.

kindly

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

From this reading Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

landing

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

means

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

misled

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

move

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

nation

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

nature

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

From this reading Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

Neapolis

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

noble

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

From this reading Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

now

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

office

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.

overwhelm

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

own

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

parties

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

path

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

possibility

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

power

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

preventing

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

Ravenna

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

see

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

Sicily

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

soon

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

From this reading Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

South

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

From this reading Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.

stern

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

From this reading Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

surprise

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

taken

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

tear

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

threatened

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

throw

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The landing of the Byzantines had taken both Goths and Italians by surprise; for the last move of Belisarius to the east had misled both parties.

Totila

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

From this reading Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.

Totila's

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

From this reading Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

vain

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

Valerius

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

From this reading Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

warned

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

From this reading He had, in his office as commodore and Count of the Harbour of Neapolis, in vain warned the Government of Ravenna of the impending danger, and begged for the power and means of defending Sicily.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Of all our Gothic friends, Totila alone was in South Italy.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

web

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

won

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

From this reading Valerius, who, though stern, had a noble and kindly nature, had soon been won by Totila's irresistible amiability.

woven

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

From this reading We shall see how he had been deprived of all possibility of preventing the catastrophe which threatened to overwhelm his nation, and which was to throw the first shadow upon the brilliant path of his own life, and tear the web of good fortune which a happy fate had, until now, woven about this favourite of the gods.