Aesop's Fables; a new translation: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Aesop uses again and again in Aesop's Fables; a new translation that are outside the 4,000 most common in English. Learn them first and the opening chapters read much more easily. Each comes with its pronunciation and a sentence from the book.
beast/ˈbist/31× in the book
It is odd to note that both the great slaves told their best stories about beasts and birds.
flock/ˈfɫɑk/22× in the book
A Wolf came upon a Lamb straying from the flock, and felt some compunction about taking the life of so helpless a creature without some plausible excuse …
sooner/ˈsunɝ/21× in the book
… and killed and devoured them daily: and sooner than endure such persecution any longer, they one and all determined to end their miserable lives.
till/ˈtɪɫ/20× in the book
But one of the Dolphins said to him contemptuously, "We would rather go on fighting till we're all killed than be reconciled by a Sprat like you!"
lion/ˈɫaɪən/19× in the book
The lion must always be stronger than the wolf, just as four is always double of two.
sheep/ˈʃip/17× in the book
The sheep in a fable must march on, as the pawn in chess must march on.
disgust/dɪsˈɡəst/14× in the book
… that's mine," and stretched out his hand eagerly for the prize: but Mercury was so disgusted at his dishonesty that he not only declined to give him the golden axe, but also refused to recover for him the one he had let fall into the stream.
presently/ˈpɹɛzəntɫi/14× in the book
So he went and began to fell a tree at the edge of the river, and presently contrived to let his axe drop into the water.
devour/dɪˈvaʊɝ/13× in the book
"Well, anyhow," said the Wolf, "I'm not going without my dinner": and he sprang upon the Lamb and devoured it without more ado.
wolf/ˈwʊɫf/13× in the book
The wolf will be always wolfish; the fox will be always foxy.
sacrifice/ˈsækɹəˌfaɪs/13× in the book
… and leave me quite bare, I shall produce wine enough to pour over you when you are led to the altar to be sacrificed."
nest/ˈnɛst/11× in the book
A Lark nested in a field of corn, and was rearing her brood under cover of the ripening grain.
hare/ˈhɛɹ/10× in the book
As soon as he had recovered the use of them, the Eagle flew out and caught a hare, which he brought home and presented to his benefactor.
quarrel/ˈkwɔɹəɫ/10× in the book
The Dolphins quarrelled with the Whales, and before very long they began fighting with one another.
crow/ˈkɹoʊ/10× in the book
For what happened was that their Mistress, not hearing the cock crow as usual, waked them up earlier than ever, and set them to work in the middle of the night.
sting/ˈstɪŋ/10× in the book
She said she would be very grateful if he would give stings to the bees, to kill people who robbed them of their honey.
prey/ˈpɹeɪ/10× in the book
… dogs, birds and beasts of prey were all their enemies, and killed and devoured them daily …
afterwards/ˈæftɝwɝdz/9× in the book
In such cases there is always some central man who had first the trouble of collecting them, and afterwards the fame of creating them.
frighten/ˈfɹaɪtən/9× in the book
They hadn't gone far before they saw a Lion coming their way, at which they were both dreadfully frightened.
goat/ˈɡoʊt/9× in the book
In course of time they came to a cave in which there were a number of wild goats.
spare/ˈspɛɹ/9× in the book
The Mouse, terrified, piteously entreated him to spare its life.
cure/ˈkjʊɹ/9× in the book
… after consulting a Doctor, made an agreement with him in the presence of witnesses that she should pay him a high fee if he cured her, while if he failed he was to receive nothing.
neighbour/ˈneɪbɝ/8× in the book
We may often be of more consequence in our own eyes than in the eyes of our neighbours.
plough/ˈpɫaʊ/8× in the book
A Farmer was ploughing one day on his farm when he turned up a pot of golden coins with his plough.
fable/ˈfeɪbəɫ/8× in the book
But the fable and the fairy tale are things utterly distinct.
envy/ˈɛnvi/8× in the book
When the Woodman told the story to his companions, one of these was filled with envy of his good fortune and determined to try his luck for himself.
starve/ˈstɑɹv/8× in the book
"The beasts are starving," he cried; "here, give them more hay, and put plenty of litter under them."
fetch/ˈfɛtʃ/8× in the book
Thinking that summer had come, and that he could now do without his coat, he went and sold it for what it would fetch.
insult/ˈɪnˌsəɫt/8× in the book
… sirrah, you grossly insulted me."
feast/ˈfist/8× in the book
… and he soon finished him off, and then at his leisure proceeded to feast upon the Ass.
accordingly/əˈkɔɹdɪŋɫi/8× in the book
The Doctor accordingly prescribed a course of treatment, and every time he paid her a visit he took away with him some article out of the house …
meadow/ˈmɛˌdoʊ/8× in the book
An old Peasant was sitting in a meadow watching his Ass, which was grazing close by, when all of a sudden he caught sight of armed men stealthily approaching.
thief/ˈθif/8× in the book
… he made a vow that, if he should discover the thief, he would sacrifice a calf to Jupiter.
feather/ˈfɛðɝ/8× in the book
Once put a thing on two legs instead of four and pluck it of feathers and you cannot help asking for a human being, either heroic …
traveller/ˈtɹævəɫɝ/7× in the book
At last they agreed to try their powers upon a traveller, to see which could soonest strip him of his cloak.
bitten/ˈbɪtən/7× in the book
snapped the Wolf, baring his teeth as he spoke; "you can go about boasting that you once put your head into a Wolf's mouth and didn't get it bitten off.
oats/ˈoʊts/7× in the book
There was once a Groom who used to spend long hours clipping and combing the Horse of which he had charge, but who daily stole a portion of his allowance of oats, and sold it for his own profit.
shepherd/ˈʃɛpɝd/7× in the book
He completely deceived the shepherd, and when the flock was penned for the night he was shut in with the rest.
cock/ˈkɑk/7× in the book
… but when it comes to flying I can soar into the clouds, whereas you are confined to the earth like any dunghill cock."
gratitude/ˈɡɹætəˌtud/7× in the book
… but not one of them noticed the presence of the Stag, who accordingly began to congratulate himself on his escape and to express his gratitude to the Oxen.
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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