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 Matilda took it so, and got ready for breakfast with a heart leaping with delight.
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The next day rose very bright and fair.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
aunt's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
boots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
breakfast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda took it so, and got ready for breakfast with a heart leaping with delight.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day rose very bright and fair.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
Candy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
Candy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day rose very bright and fair.
delight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda took it so, and got ready for breakfast with a heart leaping with delight.
dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
emptier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next day rose very bright and fair.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Matilda took it so, and got ready for breakfast with a heart leaping with delight.
gingham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda took it so, and got ready for breakfast with a heart leaping with delight.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda took it so, and got ready for breakfast with a heart leaping with delight.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
lace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
leapingnounUS /ˈleaping/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Matilda took it so, and got ready for breakfast with a heart leaping with delight.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
locked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
maid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
Matilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
mending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next day rose very bright and fair.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
prospects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda took it so, and got ready for breakfast with a heart leaping with delight.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day rose very bright and fair.
sadly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
slyly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
smiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Matilda took it so, and got ready for breakfast with a heart leaping with delight.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next day rose very bright and fair.
Things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Matilda took it so, and got ready for breakfast with a heart leaping with delight.
trunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day rose very bright and fair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
wishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Matilda took it so, and got ready for breakfast with a heart leaping with delight.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things were in this state, and Matilda mending lace in her aunt's room; when Mrs. Candy's maid of all work put her head in.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Matilda had been sadly afraid it would rain; but no such matter; the sun looked and smiled over the world as if slyly wishing her joy on her good prospects.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading She had got no more news yet as to where she was going; but after breakfast Mrs. Candy made her dress herself in the gingham and put on her best boots, which made the little trunk all the emptier; and the trunk itself was locked.
