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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
Aunt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
awakened
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From this reading Since the coming of the Fords the house in Waverly Place had awakened.
basement
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From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
carpeted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
cat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
cellar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sue’s presence had had its effect from cellar to roof.
cheerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
cleaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the coming of the Fords the house in Waverly Place had awakened.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
dingy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
dungeon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
effect
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From this reading Sue’s presence had had its effect from cellar to roof.
Enoch's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
EvennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
fat-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
Fords
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the coming of the Fords the house in Waverly Place had awakened.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Sue’s presence had had its effect from cellar to roof.
gloomy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since the coming of the Fords the house in Waverly Place had awakened.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
hallways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the coming of the Fords the house in Waverly Place had awakened.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Since the coming of the Fords the house in Waverly Place had awakened.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Sue’s presence had had its effect from cellar to roof.
January
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
Matilda's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
mouser
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
nibbling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Since the coming of the Fords the house in Waverly Place had awakened.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
paws
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
Place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the coming of the Fords the house in Waverly Place had awakened.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sue’s presence had had its effect from cellar to roof.
refuge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
refused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sue’s presence had had its effect from cellar to roof.
scared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since the coming of the Fords the house in Waverly Place had awakened.
smiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
stove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
Sue's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sue’s presence had had its effect from cellar to roof.
sunbeam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Since the coming of the Fords the house in Waverly Place had awakened.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sue’s presence had had its effect from cellar to roof.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
Waverly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the coming of the Fords the house in Waverly Place had awakened.
welcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sunbeam that ever smiled into a dungeon could have been more welcome.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Even Aunt Matilda’s cat--a scared and fat-headed old mouser who had refused half through January to leave its warm refuge under her stove in the basement--could now be seen nibbling and cleaning her paws as far up as the top carpeted step on Enoch’s floor.
zigzagging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gloomy old stairs zigzagging up to the top floor seemed more cheerful, and the narrow hallways it led to less dingy.
