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AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
all
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From this reading He bends it immediately, and shoots through all the rings.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
apart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
ARGUMENTnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/
a reason or example used to support an idea
From this reading ARGUMENT.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
attempts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
bend
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From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
BENDING
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From this reading THE BENDING OF ULYSSES’ BOW.
bends
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From this reading He bends it immediately, and shoots through all the rings.
BOW
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From this reading THE BENDING OF ULYSSES’ BOW.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
cause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
delivered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
desires
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From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
discovers
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From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
end
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From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
Eumaeus
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From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He bends it immediately, and shoots through all the rings.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bends it immediately, and shoots through all the rings.
indignation
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From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
ineffectual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
marry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BENDING OF ULYSSES’ BOW.
Penelope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
Philaetius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
proposes
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From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
proved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
refused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
returning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
ringlets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
rings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bends it immediately, and shoots through all the rings.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
shoot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
shoots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bends it immediately, and shoots through all the rings.
solicitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
suitors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
Telemachus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BENDING OF ULYSSES’ BOW.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
ULYSSES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BENDING OF ULYSSES’ BOW.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumaeus and Philaetius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands.
