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 The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
anchored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Epicurus anchored before the Temple of Poseidon.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
anticipate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
Antony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The Epicurus anchored before the Temple of Poseidon.
blew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
ceased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
commanding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
cool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dense throng still covered the quay from the southern end of the Heptastadium to the promontory of Lochias.
crewnounUS /crew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
dense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dense throng still covered the quay from the southern end of the Heptastadium to the promontory of Lochias.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dense throng still covered the quay from the southern end of the Heptastadium to the promontory of Lochias.
Epicurus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Epicurus anchored before the Temple of Poseidon.
erection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
Heptastadium
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dense throng still covered the quay from the southern end of the Heptastadium to the promontory of Lochias.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
Lochias
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dense throng still covered the quay from the southern end of the Heptastadium to the promontory of Lochias.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Epicurus anchored before the Temple of Poseidon.
omen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
ordered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
peace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
pirate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
Poseidon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Epicurus anchored before the Temple of Poseidon.
promontory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dense throng still covered the quay from the southern end of the Heptastadium to the promontory of Lochias.
quay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dense throng still covered the quay from the southern end of the Heptastadium to the promontory of Lochias.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
regarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
southern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dense throng still covered the quay from the southern end of the Heptastadium to the promontory of Lochias.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A dense throng still covered the quay from the southern end of the Heptastadium to the promontory of Lochias.
strongly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
Temple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Epicurus anchored before the Temple of Poseidon.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Epicurus anchored before the Temple of Poseidon.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
throng
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dense throng still covered the quay from the southern end of the Heptastadium to the promontory of Lochias.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.
