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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.