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Golden Deeds: Stories from History
Golden Deeds: Stories from History

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Golden Deeds: Stories from History
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.
As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.
The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.
The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.
Then the leader of the Romans, who was called the Consul, cried out to his followers to destroy the bridge.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Golden Deeds: Stories from History

Chapter I

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.
Line 2
As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.
Line 3
The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.
Line 4
The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.
Line 5
Then the leader of the Romans, who was called the Consul, cried out to his followers to destroy the bridge.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.”

Cried noun US /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then the leader of the Romans, who was called the Consul, cried out to his followers to destroy the bridge.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.”

All words in this reading · 74

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

ago

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

army

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

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

banished

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

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

bridge

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

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

called

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

cause

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

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

city

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

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

Consul

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

From this reading Then the leader of the Romans, who was called the Consul, cried out to his followers to destroy the bridge.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

criednounUS /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then the leader of the Romans, who was called the Consul, cried out to his followers to destroy the bridge.

crossing

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

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

destroy

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

From this reading Then the leader of the Romans, who was called the Consul, cried out to his followers to destroy the bridge.

drove

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

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

entered

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

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

entrance

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

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

followers

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

From this reading Then the leader of the Romans, who was called the Consul, cried out to his followers to destroy the bridge.

force

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

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

gathering

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

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Then the leader of the Romans, who was called the Consul, cried out to his followers to destroy the bridge.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

kings

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

Lars

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

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

leader

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

From this reading Then the leader of the Romans, who was called the Consul, cried out to his followers to destroy the bridge.

men

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

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

More

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

only

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

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

out

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

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

pass

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

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

people

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

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

Porsena

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

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

river

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

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

Roman

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

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

Romans

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

From this reading Then the leader of the Romans, who was called the Consul, cried out to his followers to destroy the bridge.

Rome

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

rose

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

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

ruled

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

some

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

Tarquins

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

then

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

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

there

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

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

thousand

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

Tiber

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

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

together

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

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

Tuscany

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

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

two

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

up

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

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The banished kings then went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Then the leader of the Romans, who was called the Consul, cried out to his followers to destroy the bridge.

wicked

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

From this reading As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up against them, and drove them out of the city.

wooden

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

From this reading The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass.

years

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

From this reading More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings called the Tarquins.