Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
When the birds fly south
When the birds fly south

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of When the birds fly south is here in full — 144 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for When the birds fly south
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.
All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.
Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.
And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.
Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.
0:00 / 0:00
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.

When the birds fly south

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of When the birds fly south is here in full — 144 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.
Line 2
All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.
Line 3
Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.
/ˈbɑːnfaɪərz ɑːr ˈlaɪtəd æt naɪt ənd wɪrd ənd ˈpɪktʃərəsk ˈdænsəz ˈeksəkjuːtɪd sɔːŋz ɑːr sʌŋ baɪ deɪ ənd ˈreɪsəz rʌn ənd ɡeɪmz ʌv streŋkθ ənd skɪl faɪnd ˈfeɪvər prerz ɑːr ˈʌtərd ɔːˈreɪʃənz meɪd ˈstɔːriz toʊld ənd ˈpoʊəmz ˌɪnˈtoʊnd/
Line 4
And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.
Line 5
Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

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.

Bonfires noun US /ˈbɑːnfaɪərz/

plural of “bonfire” — a large outdoor fire that is lighted as a signal or in celebration

From this reading “Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.”

combines noun US /kəmˈbaɪnz/

plural of “combine” — harvester that heads and threshes and cleans grain while moving across the field

From this reading “And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.”

consecration noun US /ˌkɑːnsəˈkreɪʃən/

a solemn commitment of your life or your time to some cherished purpose (to a service or a goal)

From this reading “And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.”

intoned adjective US /ˌɪnˈtoʊnd/

uttered in a monotonous cadence or rhythm as in chanting

From this reading “Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.”

jugs noun US /dʒʌɡz/

plural of “jug” — a large bottle with a narrow mouth

From this reading “And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.”

orations noun US /ɔːˈreɪʃənz/

plural of “oration” — an instance of oratory

From this reading “Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.”

participate verb US /pɑːrˈtɪsəpeɪt/

share in something

From this reading “All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.”

starchy adjective US /ˈstɑːrtʃi/

consisting of or containing starch

From this reading “And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.”

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.

twenty-four hours adjective + noun

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

In this reading “_AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.”

wedded pair adjective + noun

In this reading “And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.”

FULL MOON adjective + noun

the time when the Moon is fully illuminated

In this reading “_AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.”

at home preposition + noun

a reception held in your own home

In this reading “All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.”

until dawn preposition + noun

In this reading “All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.”

at night preposition + noun

In this reading “Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.”

Judged by verb + particle counted as “judge by”

In this reading “Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.”

into the hands preposition + article + noun counted as “into … hands”

In this reading “All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.”

All words in this reading · 106

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 _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

AlladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

BonfiresnounUS /ˈbɑːnfaɪərz/

plural of “bonfire” — a large outdoor fire that is lighted as a signal or in celebration

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

celebratedadjectiveUS /ˈseləbreɪtɪd/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

combinesnounUS /kəmˈbaɪnz/

plural of “combine” — harvester that heads and threshes and cleans grain while moving across the field

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

consecrationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəˈkreɪʃən/

a solemn commitment of your life or your time to some cherished purpose (to a service or a goal)

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

consumedverbUS /kənˈsuːmd/

past form of “consume” — eat up completely, as with great appetite

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

dancesnounUS /ˈdænsəz/

plural of “dance” — an artistic form of nonverbal communication

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

dawnnounUS /dɔːn/

the first light of day

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

deliveredverbUS /dɪˈlɪvərd/

past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

drinkverbUS /drɪŋk/

take in liquids

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

eldersnounUS /ˈeldərz/

plural of “elder” — a person who is older than you are

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

enormousadjectiveUS /ɪˈnɔːrməs/

extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

executedadjectiveUS /ˈeksəkjuːtɪd/

put to death as punishment

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

expectedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektəd/

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

favorverbUS /ˈfeɪvər/

promote over another

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

feastingnounUS /ˈfiːstɪŋ/

eating an elaborate meal (often accompanied by entertainment)

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

fieldsnounUS /fiːldz/

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

FULLadjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

gamesnounUS /ɡeɪmz/

plural of “game” — a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

heldadjectiveUS /held/

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

herbnounUS /ɜːrb/

a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

Ibandru

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

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

intonedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtoʊnd/

uttered in a monotonous cadence or rhythm as in chanting

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

intoxicantnoun

a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

invitedverbUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪtəd/

past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

JudgedverbUS /dʒʌdʒd/

past form of “judge” — determine the result of (a competition)

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

jugsnounUS /dʒʌɡz/

plural of “jug” — a large bottle with a narrow mouth

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

labornounUS /ˈleɪbər/

a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

lightedadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪtəd/

set afire or burning

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/

relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

markverbUS /mɑːrk/

attach a tag or label to

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

marriedadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/

joined in matrimony

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

membersnounUS /ˈmembərz/

plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

merrymakers

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

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

MOONnounUS /muːn/

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

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

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

occasionnounUS /əˈkeɪʒən/

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

orationsnounUS /ɔːˈreɪʃənz/

plural of “oration” — an instance of oratory

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

pairnounUS /per/

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

participateverbUS /pɑːrˈtɪsəpeɪt/

share in something

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

passverbUS /pæs/

go across or through

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

permittedverbUS /pərˈmɪtɪd/

inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/

suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

poemsnounUS /ˈpoʊəmz/

plural of “poem” — a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

prayersnounUS /prerz/

plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

privilegenounUS /ˈprɪvlədʒ/

a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

quantitynounUS /ˈkwɑːntəti/

how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

racesnounUS /ˈreɪsəz/

plural of “race” — any competition

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

rejoicingnounUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪsɪŋ/

a feeling of great happiness

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

respectnounUS /rɪˈspekt/

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

rootsnounUS /ruːts/

the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

runverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

sacru

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

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

skillnounUS /skɪl/

an ability that has been acquired by training

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

songsnounUS /sɔːŋz/

plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

starchyadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtʃi/

consisting of or containing starch

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

storiesnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/

plural of “story” — 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 Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

strengthnounUS /streŋkθ/

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

sungnounUS /sʌŋ/

the imperial dynasty of China from 960 to 1279; noted for art and literature and philosophy

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/

final or last in your life or progress

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

TIMEnounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

tribenounUS /traɪb/

a social division of (usually preliterate) people

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/

being four more than twenty

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

urgedverbUS /ɜːrdʒd/

past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

utteredadjectiveUS /ˈʌtərd/

communicated in words

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

villagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading All members of the tribe are invited, and all are expected to participate; no one is permitted to labor in the fields or at home; from dawn until dawn the village is delivered into the hands of the merrymakers.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

weddedadjectiveUS /ˈwedɪd/

having been taken in marriage

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

weddingnounUS /ˈwedɪŋ/

the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed

From this reading _AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON_ A wedding among the Ibandru is celebrated by twenty-four hours of feasting and rejoicing.

weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/

suggesting the operation of supernatural influences

From this reading Bonfires are lighted at night, and weird and picturesque dances executed; songs are sung by day, and races run, and games of strength and skill find favor; prayers are uttered, orations made, stories told, and poems intoned.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading And as the supreme mark of the occasion, a privilege that combines pleasure with consecration, the elders of the tribe pass the jugs of "sacru," a local intoxicant made from the roots of a starchy herb; and all are urged to drink out of respect for the wedded pair.

Yasma

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

From this reading Judged by the quantity of "sacru" consumed when Yasma and I were married, the respect in which we were held was enormous.

Chapter 17 of When the birds fly south by Stanton A. (Stanton Arthur) Coblentz holds 144 sentences, grouped into 29 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 17 of When the birds fly south contain?

Chapter 17 holds 144 sentences of When the birds fly south, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of When the birds fly south by Stanton A. (Stanton Arthur) Coblentz exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 144 sentences, grouped into 29 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 17 of When the birds fly south?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 When the birds fly south

Common questions about reading When the birds fly south by Stanton A. (Stanton Arthur) Coblentz on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of When the birds fly south?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of When the birds fly south is used?

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

How long does When the birds fly south take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read When the birds fly south section by section

How to work through When the birds fly south section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of When the birds fly south 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 When the birds fly south

Words and structures a reader meets early in When the birds fly south, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of When the birds fly south, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of When the birds fly south, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of When the birds fly south, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.