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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Moreover, this Herodotus never speaks of Sophocles the Athenian, and why not?
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I do not believe there were any Cadmeian inscriptions there: therefore Herodotus is most manifestly lying.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For he pretends that he saw Cadmeian inscriptions at Thebes.
Athenian
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From this reading Moreover, this Herodotus never speaks of Sophocles the Athenian, and why not?
BecauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
behold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Now I do not believe there were any Cadmeian inscriptions there: therefore Herodotus is most manifestly lying.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
Cadmeian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For he pretends that he saw Cadmeian inscriptions at Thebes.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
curse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Now I do not believe there were any Cadmeian inscriptions there: therefore Herodotus is most manifestly lying.
falls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For he pretends that he saw Cadmeian inscriptions at Thebes.
Gods
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From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
Herodotus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Now I do not believe there were any Cadmeian inscriptions there: therefore Herodotus is most manifestly lying.
inscriptions
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From this reading For he pretends that he saw Cadmeian inscriptions at Thebes.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now I do not believe there were any Cadmeian inscriptions there: therefore Herodotus is most manifestly lying.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I do not believe there were any Cadmeian inscriptions there: therefore Herodotus is most manifestly lying.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
manifestly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I do not believe there were any Cadmeian inscriptions there: therefore Herodotus is most manifestly lying.
MoreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading Moreover, this Herodotus never speaks of Sophocles the Athenian, and why not?
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I do not believe there were any Cadmeian inscriptions there: therefore Herodotus is most manifestly lying.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Moreover, this Herodotus never speaks of Sophocles the Athenian, and why not?
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now I do not believe there were any Cadmeian inscriptions there: therefore Herodotus is most manifestly lying.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
poet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
pretends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For he pretends that he saw Cadmeian inscriptions at Thebes.
quote
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From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For he pretends that he saw Cadmeian inscriptions at Thebes.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
Sophocles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, this Herodotus never speaks of Sophocles the Athenian, and why not?
speaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, this Herodotus never speaks of Sophocles the Athenian, and why not?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For he pretends that he saw Cadmeian inscriptions at Thebes.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
Thebes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For he pretends that he saw Cadmeian inscriptions at Thebes.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I do not believe there were any Cadmeian inscriptions there: therefore Herodotus is most manifestly lying.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Now I do not believe there were any Cadmeian inscriptions there: therefore Herodotus is most manifestly lying.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Moreover, this Herodotus never speaks of Sophocles the Athenian, and why not?
tragedies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Now behold,” he went on, “how the curse of the Gods falls upon Herodotus.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now I do not believe there were any Cadmeian inscriptions there: therefore Herodotus is most manifestly lying.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, this Herodotus never speaks of Sophocles the Athenian, and why not?
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because he, being a child at school, did not learn Sophocles by heart: for the tragedies of Sophocles could not have been learned at school before they were written, nor can any man quote a poet whom he never learned at school.
