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The Heroes
The Heroes

Chapter XIV · How Theseus Slew the Devourers of Men

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Context Illustration Reading 1/60 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.
And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.
But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?
What if he will not receive me?
And what have I done that he should receive me?
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Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Heroes

Chapter XIV · How Theseus Slew the Devourers of Men

Reading 1/60 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.
Line 2
And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.
Line 3
But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?
Line 4
What if he will not receive me?
Line 5
And what have I done that he should receive me?

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?”

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And what have I done that he should receive me?”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?”

All words in this reading · 68

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 And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

Athens

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

bay

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And what have I done that he should receive me?

down

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

fail

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

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

father

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

find

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

fly

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

full

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

From this reading So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.

going

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

harbour

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

heart

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

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

hiring

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.

hopes

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

From this reading So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading And what have I done that he should receive me?

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

longed

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

loves

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

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

many

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

From this reading So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading What if he will not receive me?

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading What if he will not receive me?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.

other

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

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

receive

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

From this reading What if he will not receive me?

said

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

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

sailing

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

sea

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading And what have I done that he should receive me?

sighed

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

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

slow

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.

sons

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

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.

swift

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

there

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

From this reading So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.

Theseus

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

From this reading So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

too

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading What if he will not receive me?

wings

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

From this reading And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship, and sailing across the bay to Athens; but even that seemed too slow for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea, and find his father.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading But after a while his heart began to fail him; and he sighed, and said within himself— ‘What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves?