'At any rate(Regardless of what happened; in any case [æt ˈɛni reɪt]) I'll never go THERE again(I will not return to that place [aɪl ˈnɛvər goʊ ðɛr əˈgɛn])!' (Used to indicate direct speech)said(Past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]) Alice(The name of the character speaking [ˈælɪs]) as she picked her way(As she carefully chose her path [ɛz ʃi pɪkt hər weɪ]) through the wood(Through the forest [θru ðə wʊd]). (Indicates the end of a sentence and the beginning of direct speech)'It's(Contraction of 'it is' [ɪts]) the stupidest tea-party(The most foolish or nonsensical tea-party [ðə ˈstupɪdəst tea-party]) I ever was at(That I have ever attended [aɪ ˈɛvər wɑz æt]) in all my life(In my entire existence! [ɪn ɔl maɪ laɪf])!'
Just as(Immediately after or at the same moment that [ʤɪst ɛz]) she said this(she uttered these words; referring to something she had just spoken [ʃi sɛd ðɪs]), she noticed(she became aware of; she observed [ʃi ˈnoʊtɪst]) that one of the trees(referring to a specific tree out of a group of trees [ðət wən əv ðə triz]) had a door(possessed an entrance [hæd ə dɔr]) leading right into it(going directly inside the tree [ˈlidɪŋ raɪt ˈɪntu ɪt]). 'That's very curious(That is very strange or unusual! An exclamation of surprise [ðæts ˈvɛri ˈkjʊriəs])!' she thought(she considered; it was her internal reflection [ʃi θɔt]). 'But everything's curious today(However, all things are strange or unusual on this day [bət ˈɛvriˌθɪŋz ˈkjʊriəs təˈdeɪ]). I think I may as well(I believe I should; expressing a willingness to do something [aɪ θɪŋk aɪ meɪ ɛz wɛl]) go in at once(enter immediately; go inside without delay [goʊ ɪn æt wəns]).' And in she went(And she entered; emphasizing the action of entering [ənd ɪn ʃi wɛnt]).
Once more(Again; one more time [wəns mɔr]) she found herself(she realized her location or situation [ʃi faʊnd hərˈsɛlf]) in the long hall(referring to a hallway that is extended in length [ɪn ðə lɔŋ hɔl]), and close to(near to; in proximity to [ənd kloʊz tɪ]) the little glass table(a small table made of glass [ðə ˈlɪtəl glæs ˈteɪbəl]). 'Now, I'll manage better this time(I will handle the situation more effectively now [naʊ aɪl ˈmænɪʤ ˈbɛtər ðɪs taɪm]),' she said to herself(she spoke internally; she thought [ʃi sɛd tɪ hərˈsɛlf]), and began by(and started with [ənd bɪˈgæn baɪ]) taking the little golden key(grabbing the small key made of gold [ˈteɪkɪŋ ðə ˈlɪtəl ˈgoʊldən ki]), and unlocking the door(and opening the door using a key [ənd ənˈlɑkɪŋ ðə dɔr]) that led into the garden(which provided access to the garden [ðət lɛd ˈɪntu ðə ˈgɑrdən]). Then she went to work(Then she started the task of [ðɛn ʃi wɛnt tɪ wərk]) nibbling at the mushroom(taking small bites of the mushroom [ˈnɪbəlɪŋ æt ðə ˈməʃrum]) (she had kept(she had retained or held onto [ʃi hæd kɛpt]) a piece of it(a portion of the mushroom [ə pis əv ɪt]) in her pocket(inside her pocket [ɪn hər ˈpɑkət])) till she was about a foot high(until she reached a height of approximately one foot [tɪl ʃi wɑz əˈbaʊt ə fʊt haɪ]): then she walked down(after that, she proceeded along [ðɛn ʃi wɔkt daʊn]) the little passage(the small pathway [ðə ˈlɪtəl ˈpæsɪʤ]): and THEN(emphasizing the subsequent event [ənd ðɛn])—she found herself at last(she finally realized her location [ʃi faʊnd hərˈsɛlf æt læst]) in the beautiful garden(in the aesthetically pleasing garden [ɪn ðə ˈbjutəfəl ˈgɑrdən]), among the bright flower-beds(surrounded by colorful areas where flowers are planted [əˈməŋ ðə braɪt flower-beds]) and the cool fountains(and the refreshing water features [ənd ðə kul ˈfaʊntənz]).
CHAPTER(a main division of a book [ˈʧæptər]) VIII(Roman numeral for eight [viii]). The Queen's(Possessive form indicating belonging to the Queen [ðə kwinz]) Croquet-Ground(a lawn or area prepared for playing croquet [croquet-ground])
A large rose-tree(a big shrub that produces roses [ə lɑrʤ rose-tree]) stood(past tense of 'stand', meaning to be in an upright position [stʊd]) near(close to [nɪr]) the entrance(the point or place where one can enter [ðə ˈɛntrəns]) of the garden(belonging to the garden [əv ðə ˈgɑrdən]): the roses(specific flowers [ðə ˈroʊzɪz]) growing(developing or increasing naturally [groʊɪŋ]) on it(on the rose-tree [ɔn ɪt]) were white(had a white color [wər waɪt]), but(used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something [bət]) there were(used to indicate the existence or presence of something [ðɛr wər]) three gardeners(people who cultivate or tend a garden [θri ˈgɑrdənərz]) at it(engaged in the activity of painting [æt ɪt]), busily(in an active and energetic manner [ˈbɪzəli]) painting(applying paint to something [ˈpeɪnɪŋ]) them red(changing their color to red [ðɛm rɛd]). Alice(a proper noun, a name [ˈælɪs]) thought(past tense of 'think', meaning to have an opinion or belief [θɔt]) this(referring to the action of painting the roses red [ðɪs]) a very curious thing(something strange or unusual [ə ˈvɛri ˈkjʊriəs θɪŋ]), and(used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) she(pronoun referring to Alice [ʃi]) went(past tense of 'go', meaning to move or travel [wɛnt]) nearer(closer [ˈnɪrər]) to watch(to observe or look at something [tɪ wɔʧ]) them(the gardeners [ðɛm]), and(used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) just as(at the same time as [ʤɪst ɛz]) she came up(she approached [ʃi keɪm əp]) to them(to the gardeners [tɪ ðɛm]) she heard(she perceived with her ears [ʃi hərd]) one of them(one of the gardeners [wən əv ðɛm]) say(to utter words [seɪ]), 'Look out(be careful [lʊk aʊt]) now(at this moment [naʊ]), Five(a name or designation [faɪv])! Don't go(do not continue to [doʊnt goʊ]) splashing(causing liquid to scatter in drops [ˈsplæʃɪŋ]) paint(a colored substance used to decorate or protect surfaces [peɪnt]) over me(on top of me [ˈoʊvər mi]) like that(in that manner [laɪk ðət])!'
'I couldn't help it(I was unable to prevent it [aɪ ˈkʊdənt hɛlp ɪt]),' said(uttered words [sɛd]) Five(a name or designation [faɪv]), in a sulky tone(in a bad-tempered or moody way [ɪn ə sulky toʊn]); 'Seven(a name or designation [ˈsɛvən]) jogged(bumped or nudged [ʤɑgd]) my elbow(the joint between the forearm and upper arm [maɪ ˈɛlˌboʊ]).'
On which(immediately after which [ɔn wɪʧ]) Seven(a name or designation [ˈsɛvən]) looked up(raised one's eyes [lʊkt əp]) and(used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) said(uttered words [sɛd]), 'That's right(that is correct [ðæts raɪt]), Five(a name or designation [faɪv])! Always(every time; on all occasions [ˈɔlˌweɪz]) lay the blame(to accuse someone of being responsible for something [leɪ ðə bleɪm]) on others(on other people [ɔn ˈəðərz])!'
'YOU'D(contraction of 'you would', indicating a conditional statement or advice [jʊd]) better(advisable or preferable to do something [ˈbɛtər]) not talk(an imperative statement telling someone to be silent [nɑt tɔk])!' said(past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]) Five(referring to a character named Five [faɪv]). 'I heard(past tense of 'hear', indicating something was listened to [aɪ hərd]) the Queen(referring to the Queen, a royal figure [ðə kwin]) say(to utter words; to express something verbally [seɪ]) only yesterday(very recently; just the day before today [ˈoʊnli ˈjɛstərˌdeɪ]) you deserved(past tense of 'deserve', meaning to be worthy of something, either good or bad [ju dɪˈzərvd]) to be beheaded(to have one's head cut off; a form of execution [tɪ bi bɪˈhɛdɪd])!'
'What for(asking the reason or purpose for something [wət fər])?' said(past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]) the one(referring to a specific individual [ðə wən]) who had spoken(referring to the person who talked before [hu hæd ˈspoʊkən]) first(before anyone else [fərst]).
'That's(contraction of 'that is' [ðæts]) none of(not any part of [nən əv]) YOUR(belonging to you [jʊr]) business(something that concerns or is the responsibility of someone [ˈbɪznɪs]), Two(referring to a character named Two [tu])!' said(past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]) Seven(referring to a character named Seven [ˈsɛvən]).
'Yes(affirmative response [jɛs]), it IS(emphatic form of 'it is' [ɪt ɪz]) his(belonging to him [hɪz]) business(something that concerns or is the responsibility of him [ˈbɪznɪs])!' said(past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]) Five(referring to a character named Five [faɪv]), 'and(conjunction used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]) I'll(contraction of 'I will' [aɪl]) tell him(to inform him [tɛl ɪm])—it was(stating the reason [ɪt wɑz]) for bringing(because of the action of bringing [fər ˈbrɪŋɪŋ]) the cook(the person who prepares food [ðə kʊk]) tulip-roots(the underground part of a tulip plant [tulip-roots]) instead of(in place of [ˌɪnˈstɛd əv]) onions(a type of vegetable [ˈənjənz]).'
Seven(referring to a character named Seven [ˈsɛvən]) flung down(threw down forcefully [fləŋ daʊn]) his brush(the brush belonging to him [hɪz brəʃ]), and(conjunction used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]) had just begun(was in the process of starting [hæd ʤɪst ˈbeɪgən]) 'Well(an interjection, often used to express surprise or hesitation [wɛl]), of all the unjust things(expressing strong disapproval of unfair actions [əv ɔl ðə ənˈʤəst θɪŋz-])—' when(at the time that [wɪn]) his eye(the organ of sight belonging to him [hɪz aɪ]) chanced to fall(happened to look [chanced tɪ fɔl]) upon(on [əˈpɑn]) Alice(referring to a character named Alice [ˈælɪs]), as(while [ɛz]) she stood(while she was standing [ʃi stʊd]) watching them(observing them [ˈwɑʧɪŋ ðɛm]), and(conjunction used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]) he checked himself(he stopped himself [hi ʧɛkt hɪmˈsɛlf]) suddenly(quickly and unexpectedly [ˈsədənli]): the others(the remaining people [ðə ˈəðərz]) looked round(turned to look [lʊkt raʊnd]) also(in addition [ˈɔlsoʊ]), and(conjunction used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]) all of them(every one of them [ɔl əv ðɛm]) bowed low(bent their bodies downward as a sign of respect [boʊd loʊ]).