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A Thorny Path — Complete
A Thorny Path — Complete

Chapter XXVII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.
Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.
These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.
At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.
The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Thorny Path — Complete

Chapter XXVII

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.
Line 2
Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.
Line 3
These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.
Line 4
At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.
Line 5
The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.”

Cell noun US /sel/

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

From this reading “At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.”

All words in this reading · 94

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 These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

adjoining

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

Amphitheatre

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

beast-fighters

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

beasts

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

beautified

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

beehive

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

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

Bruchium

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

buildings

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

cellnounUS /sel/

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

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

cheaper

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

From this reading The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day.

Choma

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

city

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

close

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

common

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

From this reading The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

day

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

From this reading The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day.

Dionysus

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

early

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

From this reading The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

expects

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

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

extended

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

fashionable

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

find

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

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

formed

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

founded

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

full

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

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

gladiators

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

gymnasia

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

harbor

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

Hard

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

kings

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

large

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

like

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

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

Lochias

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

lofty

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

mere

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

From this reading The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day.

moment

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

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

most

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

palatial

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

peninsula

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

people

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

From this reading The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day.

places

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

From this reading The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day.

Ptolemiac

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

quarter

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

repeatedly

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

riding-schools

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

room

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

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

rotunda

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

schools

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

seated

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

seats

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

From this reading The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day.

seems

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

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

spacious

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

spectators

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

splendid

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

stables

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

standing-room

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

From this reading The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

swarm

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

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

ten

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

thousand

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

town

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

upper

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

From this reading The upper places, mere standing-room for the common people, and the cheaper seats, had been full early in the day.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The great Amphitheatre of Dionysus was in the Bruchium, the splendid palatial quarter of the city, close to the large harbor between the Choma and the peninsula of Lochias.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Hard by the spacious and lofty rotunda, in which ten thousand spectators could be seated, stood the most fashionable gymnasia and riding-schools.

whole

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

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.

wild

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

world

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

From this reading These buildings, which had been founded long since by the Ptolemiac kings, and had been repeatedly extended and beautified, formed, with the adjoining schools for gladiators and beast-fighters, and the stables for wild beasts from every part of the world, a little town by themselves.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading At this moment the amphitheatre looked like a beehive, of which every cell seems to be full, but in which a whole swarm expects yet to find room.