Animal Farm by George Orwell- page 35

The animals reassured him on this point immediately, and no more was said about the pigs sleeping in the farmhouse beds.

• The animals: referring to the group of animals on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• reassured: to say or do something to remove the doubts and fears of someone [ˌriəˈʃʊrd]
• him: referring to a specific individual, likely a character in the story [ɪm]
• on this point: regarding the specific issue or topic being discussed [ɔn ðɪs pɔɪnt]
• immediately: without delay; at once [ˌɪˈmiˌdiətli]
• and no more: indicating that nothing further [ənd noʊ mɔr]
• was said: was spoken or discussed [wɑz sɛd]
• about: concerning; regarding [əˈbaʊt]
• the pigs: referring to the group of pigs on the farm [ðə pɪgz]
• sleeping: being in a state of sleep [sˈlipɪŋ]
• in the farmhouse beds: inside the beds located in the farmhouse [ɪn ðə ˈfɑrmˌhaʊs bɛdz]

And when, some days afterwards, it was announced that from now on the pigs would get up an hour later in the mornings than the other animals, no complaint was made about that either.

• And when: introducing a subsequent event or situation [ənd wɪn]
• some days afterwards: a few days later [səm deɪz ˈæftərwərdz]
• it was announced: an official statement was made [ɪt wɑz əˈnaʊnst]
• that from now on: starting from this moment forward [ðət frəm naʊ ɔn]
• the pigs: referring to the group of pigs on the farm [ðə pɪgz]
• would get up: would wake up and rise from bed [wʊd gɪt əp]
• an hour later: one hour after the usual time [ən aʊər ˈleɪtər]
• in the mornings: during the early part of the day [ɪn ðə ˈmɔrnɪŋz]
• than the other animals: compared to the other animals on the farm [ðən ðə ˈəðər ˈænəməlz]
• no complaint: no expression of dissatisfaction or grievance [noʊ kəmˈpleɪnt]
• was made: was expressed or voiced [wɑz meɪd]
• about that: concerning that particular issue [əˈbaʊt ðət]
• either: also; in addition to the previous statement [ˈiðər]

By the autumn the animals were tired but happy.

• By the autumn: during the season of autumn [baɪ ðə ˈɔtəm]
• the animals: referring to the group of animals on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• were tired: feeling weary and in need of rest [wər taɪərd]
• but happy: feeling pleased and content despite being tired [bət ˈhæpi]

They had had a hard year, and after the sale of part of the hay and corn the stores of food for the winter were none too plentiful, but the windmill compensated for everything.

• They had had: they experienced [ðeɪ hæd hæd]
• a hard year: a year filled with difficulties and challenges [ə hɑrd jɪr]
• and after: following [ənd ˈæftər]
• the sale of: the act of selling [ðə seɪl əv]
• part of the hay and corn: a portion of the hay and corn crops [pɑrt əv ðə heɪ ənd kɔrn]
• the stores of food: the supply of food that was saved [ðə stɔrz əv fud]
• for the winter: to be used during the winter season [fər ðə ˈwɪntər]
• were none too plentiful: were not very abundant or sufficient [wər nən tu ˈplɛnɪfəl]
• but the windmill: however, the windmill structure [bət ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]
• compensated: made up for; counterbalanced [ˈkɑmpənˌseɪtəd]
• for everything: for all the difficulties and shortages [fər ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ]

It was almost half built now.

• It was: referring to the windmill [ɪt wɑz]
• almost half built: nearly fifty percent completed in construction [ˈɔlˌmoʊst hæf bɪlt]
• now: at the present time [naʊ]

After the harvest there was a stretch of clear dry weather, and the animals toiled harder than ever, thinking it well worth while to plod to and fro all day with blocks of stone if by doing so they could raise the walls another foot.

• After the harvest: following the completion of the harvest season [ˈæftər ðə ˈhɑrvəst]
• there was: there existed [ðɛr wɑz]
• a stretch of: a period of [ə strɛʧ əv]
• clear dry weather: weather that was sunny and without rain [klɪr draɪ ˈwɛðər]
• and the animals: referring to the group of animals on the farm [ənd ðə ˈænəməlz]
• toiled: worked extremely hard [tɔɪld]
• harder than ever: with more effort than they had ever exerted before [ˈhɑrdər ðən ˈɛvər]
• thinking it: believing that it was [ˈθɪŋkɪŋ ɪt]
• well worth while: justified and valuable [wɛl wərθ waɪl]
• to plod: to walk slowly and laboriously [tɪ plɑd]
• to and fro: back and forth [tɪ ənd froʊ]
• all day: throughout the entire day [ɔl deɪ]
• with blocks of stone: carrying heavy pieces of stone [wɪθ blɑks əv stoʊn]
• if by doing so: if by performing this action [ɪf baɪ duɪŋ soʊ]
• they could raise: they were able to elevate [ðeɪ kʊd reɪz]
• the walls: the sides of the windmill [ðə wɔlz]
• another foot: by an additional foot in height [əˈnəðər fʊt]

Boxer would even come out at nights and work for an hour or two on his own by the light of the harvest moon.

• Boxer: name of a character [ˈbɑksər]
• would even come out: would also go outside [wʊd ˈivɪn kəm aʊt]
• at nights: during the nighttime [æt naɪts]
• and work: and perform labor [ənd wərk]
• for an hour or two: for a period of one to two hours [fər ən aʊər ər tu]
• on his own: by himself; without assistance [ɔn hɪz oʊn]
• by the light of: illuminated by [baɪ ðə laɪt əv]
• the harvest moon: the full moon that occurs near the time of the harvest [ðə ˈhɑrvəst mun]

In their spare moments the animals would walk round and round the half-finished mill, admiring the strength and perpendicularity of its walls and marvelling that they should ever have been able to build anything so imposing.

• In their spare moments: during their free time [ɪn ðɛr spɛr ˈmoʊmənts]
• the animals: referring to the group of animals on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• would walk round and round: would circle around repeatedly [wʊd wɔk raʊnd ənd raʊnd]
• the half-finished mill: the windmill that was partially constructed [ðə half-finished mɪl]
• admiring: looking at with pleasure and approval [ædˈmaɪrɪŋ]
• the strength: the physical power and solidity [ðə strɛŋθ]
• and perpendicularity: and the straightness and vertical alignment [ənd perpendicularity]
• of its walls: of the windmill's walls [əv ɪts wɔlz]
• and marvelling: being amazed and astonished [ənd marvelling]
• that they should ever: that they had ever been able [ðət ðeɪ ʃʊd ˈɛvər]
• have been able: to possess the ability [hæv bɪn ˈeɪbəl]
• to build: to construct [tɪ bɪld]
• anything so imposing: something so grand and impressive [ˈɛniˌθɪŋ soʊ ˌɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ]

Only old Benjamin refused to grow enthusiastic about the windmill, though, as usual, he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time.

• Only old Benjamin: only the character named Benjamin [ˈoʊnli oʊld ˈbɛnʤəmən]
• refused to grow enthusiastic: did not become excited or eager [rɪfˈjuzd tɪ groʊ ɪnˌθuziˈæstɪk]
• about the windmill: regarding the windmill project [əˈbaʊt ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]
• though, as usual: although, as was typical of him [ðoʊ ɛz ˈjuʒəwəl]
• he would utter: he would say [hi wʊd ˈətər]
• nothing beyond: nothing more than [ˈnəθɪŋ bɪɔnd]
• the cryptic remark: the mysterious and ambiguous statement [ðə ˈkrɪptɪk rɪˈmɑrk]
• that donkeys: that donkeys as a species [ðət ˈdɑŋkiz]
• live a long time: have a long lifespan [lɪv ə lɔŋ taɪm]

November came, with raging south-west winds.

• November came: November arrived; the eleventh month of the year began [noʊˈvɛmbər keɪm]
• with: followed by; accompanied by [ wɪθ]
• raging: violent; uncontrolled [ˈreɪʤɪŋ]
• south-west winds: winds blowing from the southwest direction, often associated with storms [south-west wɪndz]

Building had to stop because it was now too wet to mix the cement.

• Building: the act or process of constructing something [ˈbɪldɪŋ]
• had to stop: was necessary to cease; was forced to halt [hæd tɪ stɑp]
• because: for the reason that; since [bɪˈkəz]
• it: refers to the building process [ɪt]
• was now: at this point in time [wɑz naʊ]
• too wet: excessively damp; not dry enough [tu wɛt]
• to mix: in order to combine [tɪ mɪks]
• the cement: a binding substance used in construction [ðə sɪˈmɛnt]

Finally there came a night when the gale was so violent that the farm buildings rocked on their foundations and several dies were blown off the roof of the barn.

• Finally: eventually; after some time [ˈfaɪnəli]
• there came: there arrived; there occurred [ðɛr keɪm]
• a night: a specific evening [ə naɪt]
• when: at which time [wɪn]
• the gale: a very strong wind [ðə geɪl]
• was so violent: was extremely forceful and intense [wɑz soʊ ˈvaɪələnt]
• that: to such a degree that [ðət]
• the farm buildings: the structures on a farm, such as barns and houses [ðə fɑrm ˈbɪldɪŋz]
• rocked: swayed or shook violently [rɑkt]
• on their foundations: on the bases that support the buildings [ɔn ðɛr faʊnˈdeɪʃənz]
• and: in addition to [ənd]
• were blown off: were dislodged and carried away by the wind [wər bloʊn ɔf]
• the roof: the covering of a building [ðə rʊf]
• of the barn: belonging to the barn, a farm building for storing crops or housing animals [əv ðə bɑrn]

The hens woke up squawking with terror because they had all dreamed simultaneously of hearing a gun go off in the distance.

• The hens: female chickens [ðə hɛnz]
• woke up: became conscious; stopped sleeping [woʊk əp]
• squawking: making a loud, harsh cry [skˈwɔkɪŋ]
• with terror: filled with extreme fear [wɪθ ˈtɛrər]
• because: for the reason that [bɪˈkəz]
• they: referring to the hens [ðeɪ]
• had all dreamed: had all experienced dreams [hæd ɔl drimd]
• simultaneously: at the same time [ˌsaɪməlˈteɪniəsli]
• of hearing: experiencing the sound of [əv ˈhirɪŋ]
• a gun: a firearm [ə gən]
• go off: discharge; fire [goʊ ɔf]
• in the distance: far away [ɪn ðə ˈdɪstəns]

In the morning the animals came out of their stalls to fmd that the flagstaff had been blown down and an elm tree at the foot of the orchard had been plucked up like a radish.

• In the morning: at the beginning of the day [ɪn ðə ˈmɔrnɪŋ]
• the animals: the creatures living on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• came out: exited; emerged [keɪm aʊt]
• of their stalls: from their individual compartments in a stable or barn [əv ðɛr stɔlz]
• that: introducing a clause stating what they found [ðət]
• the flagstaff: a pole on which a flag is flown [ðə ˈflægˌstæf]
• had been blown down: had been knocked over by the wind [hæd bɪn bloʊn daʊn]
• and: and also [ənd]
• an elm tree: a type of tree with broad leaves [ən ɛlm tri]
• at the foot: at the base [æt ðə fʊt]
• of the orchard: of the area where fruit trees are grown [əv ðə ˈɔrʧərd]
• had been plucked up: had been uprooted; pulled out of the ground [hæd bɪn pləkt əp]
• like a radish: in the same way that a radish is easily pulled from the ground [laɪk ə ˈrædɪʃ]

They had just noticed this when a cry of despair broke from every animal's throat.

• They: referring to the animals [ðeɪ]
• had just noticed: had only recently observed [hæd ʤɪst ˈnoʊtɪst]
• this: the uprooted tree and fallen flagstaff [ðɪs]
• when: at the moment that [wɪn]
• a cry of despair: a sound expressing hopelessness [ə kraɪ əv dɪˈspɛr]
• broke: erupted; was voiced [broʊk]
• from every animal's throat: from each animal present [frəm ˈɛvəri ˈænəməlz θroʊt]

A terrible sight had met their eyes.

• A terrible sight: a horrifying view [ə ˈtɛrəbəl saɪt]
• had met their eyes: had been seen by them [hæd mɛt ðɛr aɪz]

The windmill was in ruins.

• The windmill: a structure with sails that is turned by the wind to generate power [ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]
• was in ruins: was destroyed; was severely damaged [wɑz ɪn ruɪnz]