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The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom
The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom is here in full — 371 sentences across 75 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom
Context Illustration Reading 1/74 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.
The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.
She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.
It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.
And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom is here in full — 371 sentences across 75 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/74 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.
Line 2
The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.
/ðə oʊld ˈwʊmənz kæt ɪn ˈfɔːrmər taɪmz ðer lɪvd æn oʊld ˈwʊmən ɪn ə steɪt ʌv ekˈstriːm dəˈbɪləti/
Line 3
She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.
Line 4
It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.
Line 5
And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.

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.

claws noun US /klɔːz/

plural of “claw” — sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles

From this reading “It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.”

cot noun US /kɑːt/

a sheath worn to protect a finger

From this reading “She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.”

debility noun US /dəˈbɪləti/

the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)

From this reading “The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.”

loaf noun US /loʊf/

a shaped mass of baked bread that is usually sliced before eating

From this reading “She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.”

odour noun US /ˈoʊdər/

the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

From this reading “It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.”

readier adjective US /ˈrediər/

comparative of “ready” — completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading “And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.”

smelt noun US /smelt/

small cold-water silvery fish; migrate between salt and fresh water

From this reading “It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.”

uproot verb US /əˈpruːt/

move (people) forcibly from their homeland into a new and foreign environment

From this reading “And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.”

All words in this reading · 108

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 The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

adduced

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

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

aidnounUS /eɪd/

a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.

amountnounUS /əˈmaʊnt/

a quantity of money

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

apparentadjectiveUS /əˈperənt/

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.

boardnounUS /bɔːrd/

a committee having supervisory powers

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

CatnounUS /kæt/

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

clawsnounUS /klɔːz/

plural of “claw” — sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

companionnounUS /kəmˈpænjən/

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

contentnounUS /ˈkɑːntent/

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

contestnounUS /ˈkɑːntest/

an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

cotnounUS /kɑːt/

a sheath worn to protect a finger

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

courtesynounUS /ˈkɜːrtəsi/

a courteous or respectful or considerate act

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/

comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

debilitynounUS /dəˈbɪləti/

the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.

enemynounUS /ˈenəmi/

an opposing military force

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

extremeadjectiveUS /ekˈstriːm/

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

famine-year

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

From this reading And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.

fellverbUS /fel/

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

foodnounUS /fuːd/

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

footnounUS /fʊt/

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

formeradjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmər/

referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

gravenounUS /ɡreɪv/

death of a person

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

holenounUS /hoʊl/

an opening into or through something

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.

humilitynounUS /hjuːˈmɪlɪti/

a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

ignorantadjectiveUS /ˈɪɡnərənt/

uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

imaginationnounUS /ˌɪmædʒəˈneɪʃən/

the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

inasmuch

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

From this reading And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.

livedverbUS /lɪvd/

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

loafnounUS /loʊf/

a shaped mass of baked bread that is usually sliced before eating

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

meatnounUS /miːt/

the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/

polished surface that forms images by reflecting light

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

miser's

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

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

miserableadjectiveUS /ˈmɪzərəbəl/

very unhappy; full of misery

From this reading And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

mousenounUS /maʊs/

any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

occasionnounUS /əˈkeɪʒən/

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

occasionallyadverbUS /əˈkeɪʒənəli/

sporadically and infrequently

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/

the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

OldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

possessedadjectiveUS /pəˈzest/

influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

printnounUS /prɪnt/

the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

rareadjectiveUS /rer/

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

readieradjectiveUS /ˈrediər/

comparative of “ready” — completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

smeltnounUS /smelt/

small cold-water silvery fish; migrate between salt and fresh water

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

statenounUS /steɪt/

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

subsisted

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

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

surfacenounUS /ˈsɜːrfəs/

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always miserable and thin, and from a distance appeared like an idea.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

uprootverbUS /əˈpruːt/

move (people) forcibly from their homeland into a new and foreign environment

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

warnounUS /wɔːr/

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading And this story is adduced to make it apparent that courtesy and humility are readier means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

weeknounUS /wiːk/

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading She possessed a cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant and darker than the miser's grave; and a Cat was her companion, which had never seen, even in the mirror of imagination, the face of a loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger the name of meat.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

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

From this reading It was content if occasionally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole, or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws, it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that amount of food.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

Woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/

possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The Old Woman's Cat In former times there lived an old woman in a state of extreme debility.

Chapter 3 of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom by Kate Douglas Smith [Editor] Wiggin holds 371 sentences, grouped into 75 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 3 of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom contain?

Chapter 3 holds 371 sentences of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom, unabridged, divided into 75 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom by Kate Douglas Smith [Editor] Wiggin exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 371 sentences, grouped into 75 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 3 of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom?

Work through the 75 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 75 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom

Common questions about reading The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom by Kate Douglas Smith [Editor] Wiggin on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom?

Yes. All 3679 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #13815 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #13815, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom take to read?

About 306 minutes of reading across 736 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom section by section

How to work through The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 10 chapters of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom 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 The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Accept
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Young
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Prince
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Moral
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.