More Tales of the Birds

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of More Tales of the Birds is here in full — 455 sentences across 91 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By W. Warde (William Warde) Fowler • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for More Tales of the Birds

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

Richard Clay and Sons, Limited, LONDON AND BUNGAY.

It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather.

A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter I Reading 1/91

More Tales of the Birds

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of More Tales of the Birds is here in full — 455 sentences across 91 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/91 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

Line 2

Richard Clay and Sons, Limited, LONDON AND BUNGAY.

Line 3

It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather.

/ɪt wɑːz kloʊs əˈpɑːn ˈmɪdˈsʌmər deɪ bʌt ɪt wɑːz nɑːt ˈmɪdˈsʌmər ˈweðər/

Line 4

A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

Line 5

And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird.

/ənd æz ðə mɪst hʌŋ ˈoʊvər ðə lænd soʊ ə ˈsɜːrtən sens ʌv daʊt ənd æŋˈzaɪəti hʌŋ ˈoʊvər ðə hɑːrts ʌv mæn ənd biːst ənd bɜːrd/

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.

chill noun US /tʃɪl/

coldness due to a cold environment

From this reading “A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.”

Clay noun US /kleɪ/

a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired

From this reading “Richard Clay and Sons, Limited, LONDON AND BUNGAY.”

countryside noun US /ˈkʌntrisaɪd/

rural regions

From this reading “A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.”

fowler noun US /ˈfaʊlər/

English lexicographer who wrote a well-known book on English usage (1858-1933)

From this reading “BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.”

Limited adjective US /ˈlɪmətəd/

small in range or scope

From this reading “Richard Clay and Sons, Limited, LONDON AND BUNGAY.”

midsummer noun US /ˈmɪdˈsʌmər/

June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point

From this reading “It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather.”

moist adjective US /mɔɪst/

slightly wet

From this reading “A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.”

November noun US /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading “A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

whole countryside adjective + noun

In this reading “A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.”

hung over verb + particle counted as “hang over”

In this reading “A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.”

certain sense adjective + noun

In this reading “And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird.”

mist rose verb + noun

In this reading “A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.”

All words in this reading · 57

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.

1815

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

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Richard Clay and Sons, Limited, LONDON AND BUNGAY.

anxietynounUS /æŋˈzaɪəti/

(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic

From this reading And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

beastnounUS /biːst/

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird.

birdnounUS /bɜːrd/

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

From this reading And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird.

BIRDSnounUS /bɜːrdz/

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

BUNGAY

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

From this reading Richard Clay and Sons, Limited, LONDON AND BUNGAY.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird.

chillnounUS /tʃɪl/

coldness due to a cold environment

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

ClaynounUS /kleɪ/

a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired

From this reading Richard Clay and Sons, Limited, LONDON AND BUNGAY.

closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather.

countrysidenounUS /ˈkʌntrisaɪd/

rural regions

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

DaynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather.

doubtnounUS /daʊt/

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird.

ETC

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

From this reading BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

fieldsnounUS /fiːldz/

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

FOWLERnounUS /ˈfaʊlər/

English lexicographer who wrote a well-known book on English usage (1858-1933)

From this reading BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

heartsnounUS /hɑːrts/

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird.

hungverbUS /hʌŋ/

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather.

JunenounUS /dʒuːn/

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

landnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird.

LimitedadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmətəd/

small in range or scope

From this reading Richard Clay and Sons, Limited, LONDON AND BUNGAY.

LONDONnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading Richard Clay and Sons, Limited, LONDON AND BUNGAY.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird.

MidsummernounUS /ˈmɪdˈsʌmər/

June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point

From this reading It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather.

mistverbUS /mɪst/

become covered with mist

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

moistadjectiveUS /mɔɪst/

slightly wet

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather.

NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

Richard

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

From this reading Richard Clay and Sons, Limited, LONDON AND BUNGAY.

rosenounUS /roʊz/

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

sensenounUS /sens/

a general conscious awareness

From this reading And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

SonsnounUS /sʌnz/

plural of “son” — a male human offspring

From this reading Richard Clay and Sons, Limited, LONDON AND BUNGAY.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather.

WnounUS /ˈdʌbəljuː/

a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite

From this reading BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

WARDE

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

From this reading BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather.

weathernounUS /ˈweðər/

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation

From this reading It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

wetadjectiveUS /wet/

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is.

WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

YEARnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS,” ETC.

Chapter 1 of More Tales of the Birds by W. Warde (William Warde) Fowler holds 455 sentences, grouped into 91 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 More Tales of the Birds contain?

Chapter 1 holds 455 sentences of More Tales of the Birds, unabridged, divided into 91 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of More Tales of the Birds by W. Warde (William Warde) Fowler exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 455 sentences, grouped into 91 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 More Tales of the Birds?

Work through the 91 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 91 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 More Tales of the Birds

Common questions about reading More Tales of the Birds by W. Warde (William Warde) Fowler on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of More Tales of the Birds?

Yes. All 1838 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #50276 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of More Tales of the Birds is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #50276, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does More Tales of the Birds take to read?

About 153 minutes of reading across 368 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read More Tales of the Birds section by section

How to work through More Tales of the Birds section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 4 chapters of More Tales of the Birds to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in More Tales of the Birds

Words and structures a reader meets early in More Tales of the Birds, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Warde: A word that appears in the opening chapter of More Tales of the Birds; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fowler: A word that appears in the opening chapter of More Tales of the Birds; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author: A word that appears in the opening chapter of More Tales of the Birds; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Birds: A word that appears in the opening chapter of More Tales of the Birds; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter I

What does chapter 1 of More Tales of the Birds contain?

How do I study chapter 1 of More Tales of the Birds?

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Questions about reading More Tales of the Birds

How to read More Tales of the Birds section by section

Open a chapter

Read one section

Listen and tap

Vocabulary met early in More Tales of the Birds