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Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their
Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their is here in full — 125 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Thomas Bingley • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.
“The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.
They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”
“But how, then, can they perceive their prey?” asked Jane.
“By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.
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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.

Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their is here in full — 125 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.
/ˈʌŋkəl ˈtɑːməs telz əˈbaʊt aʊlz ənd ʌv ðə ˈkjʊriəs pɪˌkjuːliˈerətiz ɪn ðer ˈstrʌktʃər wɪtʃ eˈneɪbəl ðem tuː siːk fɔːr ənd sɪˈkjʊr ðer preɪ ˈdʊrɪŋ ðə naɪt/
Line 2
“The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.
/ðə aʊlz sed ˈʌŋkəl ˈtɑːməs ɑːn ðer nekst ˈmiːtɪŋ ɑːr pərˈhæps wʌn ʌv ðə moʊst ˈɪntrəstɪŋ ˈfæməliz ʌv bɜːrdz ʌv preɪ/
Line 3
They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”
/ðeɪ ɑːr wɪð wʌn ɔːr tuː ɪkˈsepʃənz naɪt bɜːrdz ðæt ɪz ðeɪ siːk ðer preɪ ˈdʊrɪŋ ðə naɪt ɔːr ɪn ðə dɪm ˈtwaɪlaɪt wen ˈskersli ˈeni ˈʌðər ˈænəməl kæn siː/
Line 4
“But how, then, can they perceive their prey?” asked Jane.
Line 5
“By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.
/baɪ ə pəˈkjuːljər fɔːrˈmeɪʃən sed ˈʌŋkəl ˈtɑːməs ðə aɪ ʌv ðə aʊl hæz bɪn ˈfɪtəd fɔːr juːs dʒʌst wen frʌm ðə ˈhæbəts ʌv ðə bɜːrd ɪt ɪz moʊst ˈwɔːntɪd/

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.

enable verb US /eˈneɪbəl/

render capable or able for some task

From this reading “UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
exceptions noun US /ɪkˈsepʃənz/

plural of “exception” — a deliberate act of omission

From this reading “They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
formation noun US /fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/

an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit

From this reading ““By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Owl noun US /aʊl/

nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes

From this reading ““By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
owls noun US /aʊlz/

plural of “owl” — nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes

From this reading “UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
peculiarities noun US /pɪˌkjuːliˈerətiz/

plural of “peculiarity” — an odd or unusual characteristic

From this reading “UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
prey noun US /preɪ/

a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence

From this reading “UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
structure noun US /ˈstrʌktʃər/

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts

From this reading “UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

dim twilight adjective + noun

In this reading “They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.””

298 times in 426,211 chapters
most interesting adverb + adjective

In this reading ““The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.”

5,794 times in 426,211 chapters
DURING THE NIGHT preposition + article + noun counted as “during … night”

In this reading “UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.”

9,011 times in 426,211 chapters
next meeting adjective + noun

In this reading ““The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.”

963 times in 426,211 chapters
other animal adjective + noun

In this reading “They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.””

2,648 times in 426,211 chapters
scarcely any adverb + adjective

In this reading “They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.””

2,601 times in 426,211 chapters
SEEK FOR verb + particle

In this reading “UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.”

3,970 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 72

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 “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ABOUTprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
animalnounUS /ˈænəməl/

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading “The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading “But how, then, can they perceive their prey?” asked Jane.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
birdnounUS /bɜːrd/

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

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BirdsnounUS /bɜːrdz/

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

From this reading “The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “But how, then, can they perceive their prey?” asked Jane.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CURIOUSadjectiveUS /ˈkjʊriəs/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DURINGprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ENABLEverbUS /eˈneɪbəl/

render capable or able for some task

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
exceptionsnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃənz/

plural of “exception” — a deliberate act of omission

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eyenounUS /aɪ/

the organ of sight

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
familiesnounUS /ˈfæməliz/

plural of “family” — a social unit living together

From this reading “The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/

being the right size and shape to fit as desired

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
formationnounUS /fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/

an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
habitsnounUS /ˈhæbəts/

plural of “habit” — an established custom

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
how

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

From this reading “But how, then, can they perceive their prey?” asked Jane.

Pending verification
INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
interestingadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading “The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Jane

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

From this reading “But how, then, can they perceive their prey?” asked Jane.

Pending verification
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
meetingnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋ/

a formally arranged gathering

From this reading “The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading “The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading “The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NIGHTnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OwlnounUS /aʊl/

nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OWLSnounUS /aʊlz/

plural of “owl” — nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
peculiaradjectiveUS /pəˈkjuːljər/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PECULIARITIESnounUS /pɪˌkjuːliˈerətiz/

plural of “peculiarity” — an odd or unusual characteristic

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
perceiveverbUS /pərˈsiːv/

to become aware of through the senses

From this reading “But how, then, can they perceive their prey?” asked Jane.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading “The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PREYnounUS /preɪ/

a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “The Owls,” said Uncle Thomas, on their next meeting, “are perhaps one of the most interesting families of Birds of Prey.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/

only a very short time before

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SECUREverbUS /sɪˈkjʊr/

get by special effort

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SEEKverbUS /siːk/

try to get or reach

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STRUCTUREnounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TELLSnounUS /telz/

plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEIRdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEMpronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading “But how, then, can they perceive their prey?” asked Jane.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THOMASnounUS /ˈtɑːməs/

United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
UNCLEnounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading “By a peculiar formation,” said Uncle Thomas, “the eye of the Owl has been fitted for use just when from the habits of the bird it is most wanted.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WHICHpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading UNCLE THOMAS TELLS ABOUT OWLS, AND OF THE CURIOUS PECULIARITIES IN THEIR STRUCTURE WHICH ENABLE THEM TO SEEK FOR AND SECURE THEIR PREY DURING THE NIGHT.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading They are, with one or two exceptions, night birds; that is, they seek their prey during the night, or in the dim twilight when scarcely any other animal can see.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 5 of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their by Thomas Bingley holds 125 sentences, grouped into 25 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 5 of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their contain?

Chapter 5 holds 125 sentences of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their by Thomas Bingley exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 125 sentences, grouped into 25 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 5 of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their?

Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 25 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their

Common questions about reading Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their by Thomas Bingley on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their?

Yes. All 1134 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #61808 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #61808, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their take to read?

About 94 minutes of reading across 227 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 8 chapters of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their 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 Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their

Words and structures a reader meets early in Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Tales
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Birds
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Illustrative
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Nature
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales About Birds, Illustrative of Their; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.