used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
altarnounUS /ˈɔːltər/
the table in Christian churches where communion is given
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
bathsnounUS /bæθs/
plural of “bath” — a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading BATTLE OF THERMOPYLÆ.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
Chytri
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
consultedverbUS /kənˈsʌltəd/
past form of “consult” — get or ask advice from
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
defendverbUS /dɪˈfend/
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
GreeksnounUS /ɡriːks/
plural of “greek” — the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
HerculesnounUS /ˈhɜːrkjəliːz/
(classical mythology) a hero noted for his strength; performed 12 immense labors to gain immortality
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
inaccessibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəkˈsesəbəl/
capable of being reached only with great difficulty or not at all
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
IsthmusnounUS /ˈɪsməs/
a relatively narrow strip of land (with water on both sides) connecting two larger land areas
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
morassnounUS /mərˈæs/
a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
attach to a support
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
narroweradjectiveUS /ˈneroʊər/
comparative of “narrow” — not wide
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BATTLE OF THERMOPYLÆ.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
go across or through
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
precipitousadjectiveUS /prɪˈsɪpɪtəs/
done with very great haste and without due deliberation
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
prevailedverbUS /prɪˈveɪld/
past form of “prevail” — be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
prosecuteverbUS /ˈprɑːsəkjuːt/
conduct a prosecution in a court of law
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
territoriesnounUS /ˈterətɔːriz/
plural of “territory” — a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
THERMOPYLÆ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BATTLE OF THERMOPYLÆ.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
Thessalynoun
a fertile plain on the Aegean Sea in east central Greece; Thessaly was a former region of ancient Greece
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this passage there are hot baths, which the inhabitants call Chytri, and above these is an altar to Hercules.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
at the time that
From this reading When the Greeks arrived at the Isthmus they consulted in what way and in what places they should prosecute the war.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The opinion which prevailed was that they should defend the pass at Thermopylæ; for it appeared to be narrower than that into Thessaly, and at the same time nearer to their own territories.
Œta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the western side of Thermopylæ is an inaccessible and precipitous mountain, stretching to Mount Œta; and on the eastern side of the way is the sea and a morass.
