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.