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
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.
oxen
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.