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Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa
Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16, section 1: The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was alw
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.
So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.
One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.
This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.
Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.
Line 2
So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.
Line 3
One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.
Line 4
This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.
Line 5
Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

Learner Dictionary

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

story noun US /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading “The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.”

Collocations
The StoryA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
Story ofA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 144

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

36

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

agriculture

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

all

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

always

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

any

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

beautiful

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

carefully

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

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

causing

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

Ceres

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

coal-black

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

consent

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

crack

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

dancing

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

daughter

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

day

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

daylight

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

desired

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

disgustnounUS /dɪsˈɡʌst/

a strong feeling of dislike or sickness caused by something unpleasant

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

driving

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

earth

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

earth's

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

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

earthquakes

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

Enna

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

Etna

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

exquisitely

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

fearing

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

fissure

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

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

force

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

four

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

frost

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

gain

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

games

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

gathering

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

gentle

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

giants

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

goddess

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

got

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

grewsome

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

group

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

Hades

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

hillside

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

home

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

horses

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

imprisoned

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

island

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

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

Jupiter

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

knowing

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

land

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

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

large

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

lasts

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

listen

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

love

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

made

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/

a young woman who is not married

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

maidens

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

marriage

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

means

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

Mount

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

much

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

new

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

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

often

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

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

out

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

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

plain

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

playing

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

Pluto

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

preferred

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

Proserpina

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

restless

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

ruler

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

saw

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

share

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

shunned

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

Sicily

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

snow

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

soft

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

some

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

spend

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

springtime

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

StorynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

sunless

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

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

surface

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

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

there

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

thus

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

tried

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

turned

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

underground

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

up

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

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

vale

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

violets

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

warring

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So Pluto often went up out of his sunless land to look carefully over the island, and to be sure that no new fissure was being made in the earth's surface.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

wife

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

From this reading One day, as he was driving his four coal-black horses through the vale of Enna, he saw a group of maidens gathering violets on the hillside; and among them was one so exquisitely fair that Pluto determined to take her for his wife.

words

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

From this reading Pluto had often tried to gain a wife by gentle means, but no one would consent to share his grewsome home; so, knowing that this maiden he desired would never listen to soft words of love, he determined to take her by force.

world

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

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The Story of Proserpina When Jupiter made himself ruler of the world, he imprisoned some of the warring giants under Mount Etna in Sicily, much to the disgust of Pluto, who was always fearing that when the giants got restless and turned over and over underground (thus causing earthquakes), they would some day make such a large crack in the earth that daylight would be let into Hades.

year

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

From this reading This was Proserpina,[36] daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, a maiden who had ever shunned the thought of marriage and preferred to spend her life playing games, and dancing in the beautiful plain of Enna, where there is never any frost or snow, but springtime lasts through all the year.