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 Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Matilda shrank from having anything to do with it.
arm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But yet, the consciousness that she carried a basket of comfort on her arm was a great help.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
basket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But yet, the consciousness that she carried a basket of comfort on her arm was a great help.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But yet, the consciousness that she carried a basket of comfort on her arm was a great help.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But yet, the consciousness that she carried a basket of comfort on her arm was a great help.
cheerily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Good morning, Mrs. Eldridge; how do you do?" she said, cheerily.
comfort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But yet, the consciousness that she carried a basket of comfort on her arm was a great help.
consciousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But yet, the consciousness that she carried a basket of comfort on her arm was a great help.
contrast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Matilda shrank from having anything to do with it.
dusty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
Eldridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
forlorn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Matilda shrank from having anything to do with it.
GoodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Good morning, Mrs. Eldridge; how do you do?" she said, cheerily.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But yet, the consciousness that she carried a basket of comfort on her arm was a great help.
grimy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Matilda shrank from having anything to do with it.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But yet, the consciousness that she carried a basket of comfort on her arm was a great help.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Good morning, Mrs. Eldridge; how do you do?" she said, cheerily.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Matilda shrank from having anything to do with it.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
Matilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda shrank from having anything to do with it.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Good morning, Mrs. Eldridge; how do you do?" she said, cheerily.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But yet, the consciousness that she carried a basket of comfort on her arm was a great help.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But yet, the consciousness that she carried a basket of comfort on her arm was a great help.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Good morning, Mrs. Eldridge; how do you do?" she said, cheerily.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
shrank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda shrank from having anything to do with it.
sunny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But yet, the consciousness that she carried a basket of comfort on her arm was a great help.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The afternoon being bright and sunny, made everything in the house look more grimy and dusty for the contrast.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Matilda shrank from having anything to do with it.
triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/
something that needs very little effort
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Matilda shrank from having anything to do with it.
yesterday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Eldridge was as she had left her yesterday; a trifle more forlorn, perhaps.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading But yet, the consciousness that she carried a basket of comfort on her arm was a great help.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Good morning, Mrs. Eldridge; how do you do?" she said, cheerily.