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The Wolf and the Shepherd
The Wolf and the Shepherd

Chapter I · Act 01: The Discourse of The Wolf and the Shepherd — The Origin & The Dilemma

Act 01: The Discourse of The Wolf and the Shepherd — The Origin & The Dilemma, section 1: A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them. The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a st
Context Illustration Reading 1/1 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.
The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.
But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.
The Wolf, now that he had the opportunity, fell upon the sheep, and destroyed the greater part of the flock.
When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Wolf and the Shepherd

Chapter I · Act 01: The Discourse of The Wolf and the Shepherd — The Origin & The Dilemma

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

Line 1
A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.
Line 2
The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.
Line 3
But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.
Line 4
The Wolf, now that he had the opportunity, fell upon the sheep, and destroyed the greater part of the flock.
Line 5
When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

Learner Dictionary

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

wolf noun US /wʊlf/

any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs

From this reading “A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.”

Collocations
A WOLFA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
WOLF followedA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 81

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 A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

attempt

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

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

called

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

charge

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

city

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

company

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

day

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

destroyed

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

From this reading The Wolf, now that he had the opportunity, fell upon the sheep, and destroyed the greater part of the flock.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

effort

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

enemy

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

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

evil

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

exclaimed

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

From this reading When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

fell

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

From this reading The Wolf, now that he had the opportunity, fell upon the sheep, and destroyed the greater part of the flock.

find

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

From this reading When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

flock

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

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

followed

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

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

greater

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

From this reading The Wolf, now that he had the opportunity, fell upon the sheep, and destroyed the greater part of the flock.

guard

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

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

guardian

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The Wolf, now that he had the opportunity, fell upon the sheep, and destroyed the greater part of the flock.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

injure

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

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

kept

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

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

movements

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

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

now

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

From this reading The Wolf, now that he had the opportunity, fell upon the sheep, and destroyed the greater part of the flock.

occasion

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

opportunity

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

From this reading The Wolf, now that he had the opportunity, fell upon the sheep, and destroyed the greater part of the flock.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Wolf, now that he had the opportunity, fell upon the sheep, and destroyed the greater part of the flock.

plotter

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

rather

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

rightly

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

From this reading When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

seize

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

served

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

From this reading When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

sheep

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

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

Shepherd

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

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

slightest

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

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

strict

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

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The Wolf, now that he had the opportunity, fell upon the sheep, and destroyed the greater part of the flock.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

trust

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

From this reading When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

watch

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

From this reading The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

why

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

From this reading When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

WOLFnounUS /wʊlf/

any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs

From this reading A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them.

Chapter Quiz

What is the central philosophical inquiry and narrative progression in 'Act 01: The Discourse of The Wolf and the Shepherd — The Origin & The Dilemma'?

How does the prose style reflect classical academic excellence?

What primary language acquisition value does this text offer advanced English scholars?