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 Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
ankles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
attended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
auspicious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
avert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
beasts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
believing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
birth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
calamity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
chancing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the helpless child was left hanging to the tree until a shepherd, chancing to pass by, heard his pitiful cries and went to his rescue.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
child's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
command
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
commanded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
commit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
conviction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
cries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the helpless child was left hanging to the tree until a shepherd, chancing to pass by, heard his pitiful cries and went to his rescue.
crime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
Delphi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/
extremely frightening or unpleasant
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
fulfilled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
gods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
hanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the helpless child was left hanging to the tree until a shepherd, chancing to pass by, heard his pitiful cries and went to his rescue.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the helpless child was left hanging to the tree until a shepherd, chancing to pass by, heard his pitiful cries and went to his rescue.
heartless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
helpless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the helpless child was left hanging to the tree until a shepherd, chancing to pass by, heard his pitiful cries and went to his rescue.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
Hoping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
horror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
hunger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
infant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
informed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
Jocasta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
kill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
kingnounUS /kɪŋ/
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
Laius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
marry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
MeanwhilenounUS /ˈmeanwhile/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Meanwhile the helpless child was left hanging to the tree until a shepherd, chancing to pass by, heard his pitiful cries and went to his rescue.
misfortune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
native
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
omens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
oracle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the helpless child was left hanging to the tree until a shepherd, chancing to pass by, heard his pitiful cries and went to his rescue.
perish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
pitiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the helpless child was left hanging to the tree until a shepherd, chancing to pass by, heard his pitiful cries and went to his rescue.
queen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
rescue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the helpless child was left hanging to the tree until a shepherd, chancing to pass by, heard his pitiful cries and went to his rescue.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
shepherd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the helpless child was left hanging to the tree until a shepherd, chancing to pass by, heard his pitiful cries and went to his rescue.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
teeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
Thebes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Meanwhile the helpless child was left hanging to the tree until a shepherd, chancing to pass by, heard his pitiful cries and went to his rescue.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The king, believing that his command had been carried out and that the boy no longer lived, was happy in the conviction that the oracle would never be fulfilled.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Meanwhile the helpless child was left hanging to the tree until a shepherd, chancing to pass by, heard his pitiful cries and went to his rescue.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
wishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping to avert this dreadful calamity, Laius commanded a servant to take the child away and kill him; but the man, not wishing to commit so heartless a crime, hung the infant by his ankles to a tree, and left him there to perish of hunger or from the teeth of wild beasts.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To their horror they were informed that the boy would kill his father, marry his mother, and bring great misfortune upon his native city.
Œdipus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Œdipus Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes, were very happy when the gods gave them a little son, and they sent to the oracle at Delphi to learn what auspicious omens attended the child's birth.
