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 “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
agonynounUS /ˈæɡ.ə.ni/
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I THE SUPREME NIGHT “You are loved of the gods,” said the old gaoler.
assassinated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
blast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading May Zeus blast me with his thunderbolt if I can tell why!
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
bricks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
burning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
burnt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading May Zeus blast me with his thunderbolt if I can tell why!
committed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
crimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
crushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
enjoy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/
to think that something will happen
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
food
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
gaoler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I THE SUPREME NIGHT “You are loved of the gods,” said the old gaoler.
gentle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
gods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I THE SUPREME NIGHT “You are loved of the gods,” said the old gaoler.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
hemlock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading May Zeus blast me with his thunderbolt if I can tell why!
hundredth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I THE SUPREME NIGHT “You are loved of the gods,” said the old gaoler.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
jackals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
lashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
loved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I THE SUPREME NIGHT “You are loved of the gods,” said the old gaoler.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
meanwhilenounUS /ˈmeanwhile/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
NIGHT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I THE SUPREME NIGHT “You are loved of the gods,” said the old gaoler.
nostrils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I THE SUPREME NIGHT “You are loved of the gods,” said the old gaoler.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I THE SUPREME NIGHT “You are loved of the gods,” said the old gaoler.
overwhelmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
pincers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
plains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
poured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
profaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
rack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I THE SUPREME NIGHT “You are loved of the gods,” said the old gaoler.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
slave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
stolen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
SUPREME
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I THE SUPREME NIGHT “You are loved of the gods,” said the old gaoler.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading May Zeus blast me with his thunderbolt if I can tell why!
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I THE SUPREME NIGHT “You are loved of the gods,” said the old gaoler.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
thongs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
thunderbolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading May Zeus blast me with his thunderbolt if I can tell why!
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
vinegar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But you who have stolen, assassinated, profaned, you may expect nothing more than the gentle hemlock, and in the meanwhile you enjoy a good room.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading May Zeus blast me with his thunderbolt if I can tell why!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They would have poured vinegar into my nostrils, overwhelmed and crushed me with bricks, and if I had died under the agony, my body would already be food for the jackals of the burning plains.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I THE SUPREME NIGHT “You are loved of the gods,” said the old gaoler.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “If I, a poor slave, had committed the hundredth part of your crimes, I should have been bound upon the rack, hung up by the feet, lashed with thongs, burnt with pincers.
Zeus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading May Zeus blast me with his thunderbolt if I can tell why!
