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The Heroes
The Heroes

Chapter II · How Perseus and His Mother Came to Seriphos

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Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.
Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.
They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.
From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.
So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Heroes

Chapter II · How Perseus and His Mother Came to Seriphos

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.
Line 2
Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.
Line 3
They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.
Line 4
From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.
Line 5
So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.”

Need noun US /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.”

Princess noun US /ˈprɪn.ses/

The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.

From this reading “So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.”

Quarrel noun US /ˈkwɔːrəl/

an angry argument or disagreement

From this reading “From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.”

All words in this reading · 102

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 Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.

Acrisius

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

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

all

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

Argos

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

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

away

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

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

blest

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

called

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

Cyclopes

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

down

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

drove

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

far

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

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

feeding

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

Fen

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

foreign

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

fought

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

fruitful

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

grew

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

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

Hellas

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

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

herds

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

home

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

horses

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

jealous

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

keep

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

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

kingdom

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

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

land

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

Lerna

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

lived

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

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

meadows

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

men

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

moment

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

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

names

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

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

neednounUS /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

Once

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

From this reading Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

other

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

other's

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

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

out

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From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

oxen

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From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

princes

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

From this reading Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.

princessnounUS /ˈprɪn.ses/

The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

Prœtus

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From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

quarrelnounUS /ˈkwɔːrəl/

an angry argument or disagreement

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

seas

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

settled

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

share

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

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

sheep

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

then

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

there

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

From this reading Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.

Tiryns

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

tried

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

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

turn

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

twins

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

From this reading Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.

two

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From this reading Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.

up

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

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.

vale

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

From this reading Their names were Acrisius and Prœtus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas.

vineyards

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

warriors

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take away the other’s share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins.

wife

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

From this reading So first Acrisius drove out Prœtus; and he went across the seas, and brought home a foreign princess for his wife, and foreign warriors to help him, who were called Cyclopes; and drove out Acrisius in his turn; and then they fought a long while up and down the land, till the quarrel was settled, and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land, and Prœtus took Tiryns and the other half.

wretched

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

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other.