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 There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
ATTIC
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE ATTIC.
bacon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
brains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
breakfast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
castle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
catastrophe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
catered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
character
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
complex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
cooked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
dietnounUS /ˈdiet/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
direction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
double
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
ended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
expressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
Flooder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
Fortunately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
goodwill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
grow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
housekeeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE ATTIC.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
Maggie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
Maggie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
meals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
minus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
obliged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
occurred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
plain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
Polly's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
potatoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
pounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
produced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
redeemed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
rent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
Ricketts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
saying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
shape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
substantial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE ATTIC.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
Thursday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
Tuesday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
Wednesday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no saying how Polly's week of housekeeping might have ended, nor how substantial her castle in the air might have grown, had not a catastrophe occurred to her of a double and complex nature.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Fortunately, Mrs. Ricketts, Maggie's mother, was not obliged to meet her rent every day of the week, therefore no more of Polly's four pounds went in that direction.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The first day during which Polly and Maggie, between them, catered for and cooked the family meals, produced a plain diet in the shape of cold bacon for breakfast, and a dinner of potatoes, minus "point."
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week Maggie quite redeemed her character of being a Flooder, and worked under Polly with such goodwill that, as she herself expressed it, her small brains began to grow.
