At last(Finally; after a long delay [æt læst]) the day came(the particular day arrived [ðə deɪ keɪm]) when(at which; referring to the time when [wɪn]) Snowball's(belonging to Snowball, a character in the story [sˈnoʊˌbɔlz]) plans(schemes or projects [plænz]) were completed(had been finished [wər kəmˈplitɪd]). At(indicating a specific time or location [æt]) the Meeting(a gathering of people for a specific purpose [ðə ˈmitɪŋ]) on(indicating a day of the week [ɔn]) the following Sunday(the Sunday that came after a specific event or time [ðə ˈfɑloʊɪŋ ˈsənˌdi]) the question(the issue or topic being discussed [ðə kˈwɛʃən]) of(indicating the subject of the question [əv]) whether or not(if or if not; indicating a choice between two possibilities [ˈwɛðər ər nɑt]) to begin work(to start the task [tɪ bɪˈgɪn wərk]) on(indicating the object of the work [ɔn]) the windmill(a structure that uses wind power to generate energy [ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]) was to be put(would be presented [wɑz tɪ bi pʊt]) to the vote(to be decided by voting [tɪ ðə voʊt]). When(at the time that [wɪn]) the animals(the creatures in the story, representing different social classes [ðə ˈænəməlz]) had assembled(had gathered together [hæd əˈsɛmbəld]) in(indicating location [ɪn]) the big barn(a large building used for storing crops or housing animals [ðə bɪg bɑrn]). Snowball(a character in the story [sˈnoʊˌbɔl]) stood up(rose to a standing position [stʊd əp]) and(connecting two actions [ənd]), though(despite the fact that [ðoʊ]) occasionally(sometimes; not frequently [ɔˈkeɪʒənəˌli]) interrupted(stopped or disturbed [ˌɪntərˈəptɪd]) by(indicating the cause of the interruption [baɪ]) bleating(the sound made by sheep [bleating]) from(indicating the source of the sound [frəm]) the sheep(animals in the story [ðə ʃip]), set forth(presented; explained [sɛt fɔrθ]) his reasons(the justifications [hɪz ˈrizənz]) for(indicating the purpose [fər]) advocating(supporting; recommending [ˈædvəˌkeɪtɪŋ]) the building(the construction [ðə ˈbɪldɪŋ]) of(indicating what is being built [əv]) the windmill(a structure that uses wind power to generate energy [ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]). Then(after that [ðɛn]) Napoleon(a character in the story [nəˈpoʊljən]) stood up(rose to a standing position [stʊd əp]) to reply(to respond [tɪ rɪˈplaɪ]). He said(He stated [hi sɛd]) very quietly(in a soft voice [ˈvɛri kˈwaɪətli]) that(introducing a clause [ðət]) the windmill(a structure that uses wind power to generate energy [ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]) was nonsense(was foolish or absurd [wɑz ˈnɑnsɛns]) and(connecting two statements [ənd]) that(introducing a clause [ðət]) he advised(he recommended [hi ədˈvaɪzd]) nobody(no one [ˈnoʊˌbɑˌdi]) to vote(to cast a vote [tɪ voʊt]) for it(in favor of the windmill [fər ɪt]), and(connecting two actions [ənd]) promptly(immediately [ˈprɑmptli]) sat down(returned to a seated position [sæt daʊn]) again(once more [əˈgɛn]); he had spoken(he had talked [hi hæd ˈspoʊkən]) for(indicating duration [fər]) barely(only just; hardly [ˈbɛrli]) thirty seconds(a very short time [ˈθərˌdi ˈsɛkəndz]), and(connecting two statements [ənd]) seemed(appeared [simd]) almost(nearly [ˈɔlˌmoʊst]) indifferent(unconcerned; not caring [ˌɪnˈdɪfərənt]) as to(regarding [ɛz tɪ]) the effect(the result or impact [ðə ˈifɛkt]) he produced(he created [hi prəˈdust]). At this(at this point [æt ðɪs]) Snowball(a character in the story [sˈnoʊˌbɔl]) sprang(jumped [spræŋ]) to his feet(to a standing position [tɪ hɪz fit]), and(connecting two actions [ənd]) shouting down(overpowering with a louder voice [ˈʃaʊtɪŋ daʊn]) the sheep(animals in the story [ðə ʃip]), who(referring to the sheep [hu]) had begun(had started [hæd ˈbeɪgən]) bleating(making the sound of sheep [bleating]) again(once more [əˈgɛn]), broke into(suddenly started [broʊk ˈɪntu]) a passionate appeal(an emotional request [ə ˈpæʃənət əˈpil]) in favour of(supporting; advocating [ɪn ˈfeɪvər əv]) the windmill(a structure that uses wind power to generate energy [ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]). Until now(up to this point [ənˈtɪl naʊ]) the animals(the creatures in the story, representing different social classes [ðə ˈænəməlz]) had been(were [hæd bɪn]) about equally(roughly the same [əˈbaʊt ˈikwəli]) divided(split [dɪˈvaɪdɪd]) in(regarding [ɪn]) their sympathies(their feelings of support [ðɛr ˈsɪmpəθiz]), but(however [bət]) in a moment(very quickly [ɪn ə ˈmoʊmənt]) Snowball's(belonging to Snowball, a character in the story [sˈnoʊˌbɔlz]) eloquence(persuasive and fluent speaking [ˈɛləkwəns]) had carried(had influenced [hæd ˈkɛrid]) them away(them completely [ðɛm əˈweɪ]). In(using [ɪn]) glowing sentences(vivid and enthusiastic statements [gloʊɪŋ ˈsɛntənsɪz]) he painted(he described [hi ˈpeɪnɪd]) a picture(an image [ə ˈpɪkʧər]) of(showing [əv]) Animal Farm(the name of the farm in the story [ˈænəməl fɑrm]) as(how [ɛz]) it might be(it could be [ɪt maɪt bi]) when(at the time when [wɪn]) sordid labour(dirty and unpleasant work [ˈsɔrdəd ˈleɪbər]) was lifted(was removed [wɑz ˈlɪftɪd]) from(from [frəm]) the animals(belonging to the animals [ðə ˈænəməlz])’ backs(physical burden [bæks]). His imagination(His ability to form mental images [hɪz ˌɪˌmæʤəˈneɪʃən]) had now run(had now gone [hæd naʊ rən]) far beyond(much further than [fɑr bɪɔnd]) chaff-cutters(machines for cutting straw [chaff-cutters]) and(connecting two items [ənd]) turnip-slicers(machines for slicing turnips [turnip-slicers]). Electricity(electrical power [ɪˌlɛkˈtrɪsəti]), he said(he stated [hi sɛd]), could operate(could power [kʊd ˈɔpərˌeɪt]) threshing-machines(machines for separating grain from stalks [threshing-machines]), ploughs(farm implements used for turning over soil [plaʊz]), harrows(farm implements used for leveling soil [harrows]), rollers(farm implements used for compacting soil [ˈroʊlərz]) and(connecting items in a list [ənd]) reapers(machines for harvesting crops [reapers]) and(connecting items in a list [ənd]) binders(machines for binding sheaves of grain [ˈbaɪndərz]), besides(in addition to [ˌbiˈsaɪdz]) supplying(providing [səˈplaɪɪŋ]) every stall(each individual enclosure for an animal [ˈɛvəri stɔl]) with(having [wɪθ]) its own(belonging to it [ɪts oʊn]) electric light(artificial light powered by electricity [ɪˈlɛktrɪk laɪt]), hot and cold water(water at different temperatures [hɑt ənd koʊld ˈwɔtər]) and(connecting items in a list [ənd]) an electric heater(a device for heating powered by electricity [ən ɪˈlɛktrɪk ˈhitər]). By the time(at the point when [baɪ ðə taɪm]) he had finished(he had completed [hi hæd ˈfɪnɪʃt]) speaking(giving his speech [ˈspikɪŋ]) there was no doubt(it was certain [ðɛr wɑz noʊ daʊt]) as to(about [ɛz tɪ]) which way(in what direction [wɪʧ weɪ]) the vote(the decision-making process [ðə voʊt]) would go(would turn out [wʊd goʊ]). But(however [bət]) just at this moment(at this precise time [ʤɪst æt ðɪs ˈmoʊmənt]) Napoleon(a character in the story [nəˈpoʊljən]) stood up(rose to a standing position [stʊd əp]) and(connecting two actions [ənd]), casting(giving [ˈkæstɪŋ]) a peculiar(strange; odd [ə pɪˈkjuljər]) sidelong look(a glance to the side [sidelong lʊk]) at(towards [æt]) Snowball(a character in the story [sˈnoʊˌbɔl]), uttered(made [ˈətərd]) a high-pitched(a sound with a high frequency [ə high-pitched]) whimper(a soft, crying sound [ˈwɪmpər]) of a kind(of a type [əv ə kaɪnd]) ho one had ever heard(had previously listened to [hæd ˈɛvər hərd]) him utter(him make [ɪm ˈətər]) before(previously [ˌbiˈfɔr]).
At this(Referring to the situation or moment previously mentioned [æt ðɪs]) there was(Indicates the existence or occurrence of something [ðɛr wɑz]) a terrible baying sound(A loud, unpleasant howling noise, typically made by dogs [ə ˈtɛrəbəl beɪɪŋ saʊnd]) outside(Located or situated on the exterior of a building or place [ˈaʊtˈsaɪd]), and(Connects two similar elements or ideas [ənd]) nine enormous dogs(Nine very large dogs [naɪn ɪˈnɔrmɪs dɔgz]) wearing brass-studded collars(Having collars decorated with brass studs [ˈwɛrɪŋ brass-studded ˈkɑlərz]) came bounding into the barn(Entered the barn quickly and energetically [keɪm ˈbaʊndɪŋ ˈɪntu ðə bɑrn]). They dashed straight for Snowball(They ran quickly and directly towards Snowball [ðeɪ dæʃt streɪt fər sˈnoʊˌbɔl]), who only sprang from his place(Who quickly jumped up from where he was standing [hu ˈoʊnli spræŋ frəm hɪz pleɪs]) just in time(Barely early enough to avoid something [ʤɪst ɪn taɪm]) to escape their snapping jaws(To avoid being bitten by their jaws that were closing quickly [tɪ ɪˈskeɪp ðɛr sˈnæpɪŋ ʤɔz]). In a moment(Very quickly; almost instantly [ɪn ə ˈmoʊmənt]) he was out of the door(He exited the doorway [hi wɑz aʊt əv ðə dɔr]) and(Connects two related events [ənd]) they were after him(They were chasing him [ðeɪ wər ˈæftər ɪm]). Too amazed and frightened to speak(So surprised and scared that they couldn't talk [tu əˈmeɪzd ənd ˈfraɪtənd tɪ spik]), all the animals crowded through the door(All the animals pushed their way through the doorway [ɔl ðə ˈænəməlz ˈkraʊdɪd θru ðə dɔr]) to watch the chase(In order to observe the pursuit [tɪ wɔʧ ðə ʧeɪs]). Snowball was racing across the long pasture(Snowball was running very fast across the long field [sˈnoʊˌbɔl wɑz ˈreɪsɪŋ əˈkrɔs ðə lɔŋ ˈpæsʧər]) that led to the road(Which extended to the road [ðət lɛd tɪ ðə roʊd]). He was running as only a pig can run(He was running very fast, as fast as a pig is capable of running [hi wɑz ˈrənɪŋ ɛz ˈoʊnli ə pɪg kən rən]), but(Contrasts the previous statement [bət]) the dogs were close on his heels(The dogs were very near behind him [ðə dɔgz wər kloʊz ɔn hɪz hilz]). Suddenly(Unexpectedly; abruptly [ˈsədənli]) he slipped(He lost his footing and slid [hi slɪpt]) and(Connects two related events [ənd]) it seemed certain(It appeared to be definite [ɪt simd ˈsərtən]) that they had him(That they would catch him [ðət ðeɪ hæd ɪm]). Then(Following that; next [ðɛn]) he was up again(He stood up again [hi wɑz əp əˈgɛn]), running faster than ever(Running at a higher speed than before [ˈrənɪŋ ˈfæstər ðən ˈɛvər]), then(Following that; next [ðɛn]) the dogs were gaining on him again(The dogs were getting closer to him again [ðə dɔgz wər ˈgeɪnɪŋ ɔn ɪm əˈgɛn]). One of them all but closed his jaws(One of the dogs nearly closed its jaws [wən əv ðɛm ɔl bət kloʊzd hɪz ʤɔz]) on Snowball's tail(On the tail of Snowball [ɔn sˈnoʊˌbɔlz teɪl]), but(Contrasts the previous statement [bət]) Snowball whisked it free(Snowball quickly moved his tail away [sˈnoʊˌbɔl wɪskt ɪt fri]) just in time(Barely early enough to avoid being caught [ʤɪst ɪn taɪm]). Then(Following that; next [ðɛn]) he put on an extra spurt(He made an additional burst of speed [hi pʊt ɔn ən ˈɛkstrə spərt]) and(Connects two related events [ənd]), with a few inches to spare(With only a small amount of space remaining [wɪθ ə fju ˈɪnʧɪz tɪ spɛr]), slipped through a hole in the hedge(Passed quickly through a gap in the hedge [slɪpt θru ə hoʊl ɪn ðə hɛʤ]) and(Connects two related events [ənd]) was seen no more(Was not seen again [wɑz sin noʊ mɔr]).