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 You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
affairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The affairs of Sparta had fallen into a corrupt state by the third generation after Eurypon.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
Agids
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
Agis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
birth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
bringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The affairs of Sparta had fallen into a corrupt state by the third generation after Eurypon.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
conquered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
corrupt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The affairs of Sparta had fallen into a corrupt state by the third generation after Eurypon.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
Dorian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
Dorians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
equal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
Eurypon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
Eurypontids
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The affairs of Sparta had fallen into a corrupt state by the third generation after Eurypon.
followers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
freemen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
generation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The affairs of Sparta had fallen into a corrupt state by the third generation after Eurypon.
grandsons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
Greeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
Helos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
Helots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
Hercules
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The affairs of Sparta had fallen into a corrupt state by the third generation after Eurypon.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
king
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
kings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
Laconia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
original
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
reigned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
revolted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
rights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
rulers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
slaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
sons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
Sparta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
Spartan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
Spartans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The affairs of Sparta had fallen into a corrupt state by the third generation after Eurypon.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
twin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
twins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One line was called the Agids, from Agis, its second king; the other Eurypontids, from Eurypon, its third king, instead of from the two original twins.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the Spartan kings, sons of Hercules, had twin sons, and these two reigned together with equal rights, and so did their sons after them, so that there were always two kings at Sparta.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading These Dorians called themselves Spartans, and were the rulers of the land, though the Greeks, who were there before them, were also freemen, all but those of one city, called Helos, which revolted, and was therefore broken up, and the people were called Helots, and became slaves to the Spartans.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You remember that after a hundred years the grandsons of Hercules returned, bringing with them their followers of Dorian birth, and conquered Laconia.
