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 All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
aged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
also
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From this reading Matilda was also looking for a husband.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The best that could be said for Matilda Penshaws was that she was something of a paradox.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The best that could be said for Matilda Penshaws was that she was something of a paradox.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But that meant poaching in a strictly forbidden territory!
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
certainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
consider
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The best that could be said for Matilda Penshaws was that she was something of a paradox.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
etch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
expectancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
female
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The best that could be said for Matilda Penshaws was that she was something of a paradox.
forbiddenadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪd.ən/
Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.
From this reading But that meant poaching in a strictly forbidden territory!
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
gumption
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
hunt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda was also looking for a husband.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But that meant poaching in a strictly forbidden territory!
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda was also looking for a husband.
mate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
Matilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The best that could be said for Matilda Penshaws was that she was something of a paradox.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But that meant poaching in a strictly forbidden territory!
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The best that could be said for Matilda Penshaws was that she was something of a paradox.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
paradox
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The best that could be said for Matilda Penshaws was that she was something of a paradox.
paths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
Penshaws
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The best that could be said for Matilda Penshaws was that she was something of a paradox.
permanent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
poaching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But that meant poaching in a strictly forbidden territory!
remedial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The best that could be said for Matilda Penshaws was that she was something of a paradox.
scoffed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
sixties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The best that could be said for Matilda Penshaws was that she was something of a paradox.
strictly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But that meant poaching in a strictly forbidden territory!
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
territory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But that meant poaching in a strictly forbidden territory!
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But that meant poaching in a strictly forbidden territory!
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
thirty-three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
undergarments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All she wanted was a mate and she had the gumption to go out and hunt one down.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading She was thirty-three years old, certainly not aged when you consider the fact that the female life expectancy is now up in the sixties, but the lines were beginning to etch their permanent paths across her face and now she needed certain remedial undergarments at which she would have scoffed ten or even five years ago.
