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 Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
affairs
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From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
afterwards
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From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
Alexandria
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From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
aloof
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From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
Antony
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From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
architect
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From this reading Gorgias, the architect, had learned to bear the scorching sunbeams of the Egyptian noonday.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
assistant
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From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
barely
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From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
bear
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From this reading Gorgias, the architect, had learned to bear the scorching sunbeams of the Egyptian noonday.
boyhood
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From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
buildings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
Cleopatra
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From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
commissions
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From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
confines
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From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
construction
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From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
Cæsar
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From this reading True, the person for whom he made this sacrifice was Cæsarion, the son whom Cleopatra had given to Julius Cæsar.
Cæsarion
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From this reading True, the person for whom he made this sacrifice was Cæsarion, the son whom Cleopatra had given to Julius Cæsar.
desire
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From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
directed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
Egyptian
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From this reading Gorgias, the architect, had learned to bear the scorching sunbeams of the Egyptian noonday.
ereconjunctionUS /er/
an old word for “before”
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
erected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading True, the person for whom he made this sacrifice was Cæsarion, the son whom Cleopatra had given to Julius Cæsar.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, the person for whom he made this sacrifice was Cæsarion, the son whom Cleopatra had given to Julius Cæsar.
Gorgias
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From this reading Gorgias, the architect, had learned to bear the scorching sunbeams of the Egyptian noonday.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Gorgias, the architect, had learned to bear the scorching sunbeams of the Egyptian noonday.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
hitheradverbUS /ˈhɪðər/
an old word meaning “to this place”
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
honoured
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From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
hours
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From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
huge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
issue
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From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
Julius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, the person for whom he made this sacrifice was Cæsarion, the son whom Cleopatra had given to Julius Cæsar.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
King
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
kings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gorgias, the architect, had learned to bear the scorching sunbeams of the Egyptian noonday.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, the person for whom he made this sacrifice was Cæsarion, the son whom Cleopatra had given to Julius Cæsar.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
noonday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gorgias, the architect, had learned to bear the scorching sunbeams of the Egyptian noonday.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
oblige
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Gorgias, the architect, had learned to bear the scorching sunbeams of the Egyptian noonday.
orders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
overwhelmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, the person for whom he made this sacrifice was Cæsarion, the son whom Cleopatra had given to Julius Cæsar.
proud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
rule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
sacrifice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, the person for whom he made this sacrifice was Cæsarion, the son whom Cleopatra had given to Julius Cæsar.
sceptre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
scorching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gorgias, the architect, had learned to bear the scorching sunbeams of the Egyptian noonday.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, the person for whom he made this sacrifice was Cæsarion, the son whom Cleopatra had given to Julius Cæsar.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
successor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
sunbeams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gorgias, the architect, had learned to bear the scorching sunbeams of the Egyptian noonday.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Gorgias, the architect, had learned to bear the scorching sunbeams of the Egyptian noonday.
thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading True, the person for whom he made this sacrifice was Cæsarion, the son whom Cleopatra had given to Julius Cæsar.
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
title
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Antony had honoured him with the proud title of "King of kings"; yet he was permitted neither to rule nor even to issue orders, for his mother kept him aloof from affairs of state, and he himself had no desire to hold the sceptre.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Gorgias, the architect, had learned to bear the scorching sunbeams of the Egyptian noonday.
True
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, the person for whom he made this sacrifice was Cæsarion, the son whom Cleopatra had given to Julius Cæsar.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading True, the person for whom he made this sacrifice was Cæsarion, the son whom Cleopatra had given to Julius Cæsar.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Though not yet thirty, he had directed--first as his late father's assistant and afterwards as his successor--the construction of the huge buildings erected by Cleopatra in Alexandria.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he was overwhelmed with commissions; yet he had come hither ere the hours of work were over, merely to oblige a youth who had barely passed the confines of boyhood.
