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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 There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
all
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From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
any
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From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
bade
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From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
beasts
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From this reading She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, then she killed and boiled and roasted them.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
bird
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From this reading But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle.
birds
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From this reading She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, then she killed and boiled and roasted them.
boiled
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From this reading She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, then she killed and boiled and roasted them.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
cage
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From this reading But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle.
came
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From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
carried
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From this reading But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle.
castle
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From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
cat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
changed
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From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
circle
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From this reading But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, then she killed and boiled and roasted them.
daytime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
dwelt
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From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
forest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
innocent
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From this reading But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
killed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, then she killed and boiled and roasted them.
large
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From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
lure
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From this reading She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, then she killed and boiled and roasted them.
maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/
a young woman who is not married
From this reading But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle.
midst
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From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
obliged
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From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
paces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
proper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
roasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, then she killed and boiled and roasted them.
room
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From this reading But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle.
screech-owl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
shape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle.
stand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
stir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, then she killed and boiled and roasted them.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, then she killed and boiled and roasted them.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
thick
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From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, then she killed and boiled and roasted them.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the daytime, she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
wheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/
at any time that; every time that
From this reading But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
wicker-worknounUS /ˈwɪkər wɜːrk/
work made by weaving thin flexible branches together
From this reading But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, then she killed and boiled and roasted them.
Witch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman, who was a Witch, dwelt all alone.
