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The Magic of Oz
The Magic of Oz

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Magic of Oz is here in full — 186 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Magic of Oz
Context Illustration Reading 9/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.
Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.
It was Bini Aru's own secret.
By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."
Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or suffering to others.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Magic of Oz

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Magic of Oz is here in full — 186 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 9/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 41–45

Line 1
He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.
/hiː hæd dɪˈskʌvərd ə nuː ənd ˈsiː.krət ˈmeθəd ʌv ˌtrænsfərˈmeɪʃənz ðæt wɑːz ənˈnoʊn tuː ˈeni ˈʌðər ˈsɔːr.sər.ər/
Line 2
Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.
Line 3
It was Bini Aru's own secret.
Line 4
By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."
Line 5
Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or suffering to others.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

dealt verb US /delt/

inflected form of “deal” — act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading “Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.”

mystical adjective US /ˈmɪstɪkəl/

relating to or characteristic of mysticism

From this reading “By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."”

pronounce verb US /prəˈnaʊns/

speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way

From this reading “By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."”

simplest adjective US /ˈsɪmpləst/

superlative of “simple” — having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading “By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."”

Sorcerer noun US /ˈsɔːr.sər.ər/

A person who claims or is believed to have magical powers; a wizard of dark enchantments.

From this reading “He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.”

transform verb US /trænˈsfɔːrm/

subject to a mathematical transformation

From this reading “By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."”

transformations noun US /ˌtrænsfərˈmeɪʃənz/

plural of “transformation” — a qualitative change

From this reading “He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.”

Wizard noun US /ˈwɪzərd/

someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

From this reading “Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.”

All words in this reading · 74

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

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 He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

anyonepronounUS /ˈeniwʌn/

any person at all

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

artsnounUS /ɑːrts/

studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills)

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

Aru

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or suffering to others.

Aru's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was Bini Aru's own secret.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

beastnounUS /biːst/

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

Bini

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was Bini Aru's own secret.

birdnounUS /bɜːrd/

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or suffering to others.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

causenounUS /kɑːz/

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or suffering to others.

dealtverbUS /delt/

inflected form of “deal” — act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

discoveredadjectiveUS /dɪˈskʌvərd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

Dr

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

else

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

evilnounUS /ˈiːvəl/

morally objectionable behavior

From this reading Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or suffering to others.

fishnounUS /fɪʃ/

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

Glinda

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

GoodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

how

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

magicnounUS /ˈmædʒɪk/

any art that invokes supernatural powers

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or suffering to others.

meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

methodnounUS /ˈmeθəd/

a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

Mombi

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

mysticaladjectiveUS /ˈmɪstɪkəl/

relating to or characteristic of mysticism

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

others

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or suffering to others.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading It was Bini Aru's own secret.

Oz

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

Pipt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

pronounceverbUS /prəˈnaʊns/

speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

Pyrzqxgl

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

simplestadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpləst/

superlative of “simple” — having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

SorcerernounUS /ˈsɔːr.sər.ər/

A person who claims or is believed to have magical powers; a wizard of dark enchantments.

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

sufferingnounUS /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/

a state of acute pain

From this reading Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or suffering to others.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or suffering to others.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or suffering to others.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

transformverbUS /trænˈsfɔːrm/

subject to a mathematical transformation

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

transformationsnounUS /ˌtrænsfərˈmeɪʃənz/

plural of “transformation” — a qualitative change

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

unknownadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/

not known

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or suffering to others.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He had discovered a new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to any other Sorcerer.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

WizardnounUS /ˈwɪzərd/

someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

From this reading Glinda the Good did not know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr. Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts.

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading By its means, it was the simplest thing in the world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl."

Chapter 1 of The Magic of Oz by L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum holds 186 sentences, grouped into 38 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of The Magic of Oz contain?

Chapter 1 holds 186 sentences of The Magic of Oz, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Magic of Oz by L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 186 sentences, grouped into 38 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of The Magic of Oz?

Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 38 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Magic of Oz

Common questions about reading The Magic of Oz by L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Magic of Oz?

Yes. All 2104 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #419 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Magic of Oz is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #419, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Magic of Oz take to read?

About 175 minutes of reading across 421 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Magic of Oz section by section

How to work through The Magic of Oz section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 11 chapters of The Magic of Oz to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Magic of Oz

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Magic of Oz, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Faithful
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Magic of Oz; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Record
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Magic of Oz; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Remarkable
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Magic of Oz; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Adventures
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Magic of Oz; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.