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The Cook's Decameron
The Cook's Decameron

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of The Cook's Decameron is here in full — 801 sentences across 161 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/160 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
No. 80.
Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.
Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.
After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.
Add a few spoonsful of very good boiling gravy, and cook for another half-hour.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
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/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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The Cook's Decameron

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of The Cook's Decameron is here in full — 801 sentences across 161 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/160 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
No. 80.
Line 2
Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.
Line 3
Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.
Line 4
After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.
Line 5
Add a few spoonsful of very good boiling gravy, and cook for another half-hour.

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.

chopped adjective US /tʃɑːpt/

prepared by cutting

From this reading “After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.”

con noun US /kɑːn/

an argument opposed to a proposal

From this reading “Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.”

fillet noun US /fəˈleɪ/

a boneless steak cut from the tenderloin of beef

From this reading “Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.”

fillets noun US /ˈfɪlɪts/

plural of “fillet” — a boneless steak cut from the tenderloin of beef

From this reading “Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.”

gravy noun US /ˈɡreɪvi/

a sauce made by adding stock, flour, or other ingredients to the juice and fat that drips from cooking meats

From this reading “Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.”

half-hour noun US /ˈhæfaʊər/

a half of an hour

From this reading “Add a few spoonsful of very good boiling gravy, and cook for another half-hour.”

Ingredients noun US /ˌɪnˈɡriːdiənts/

plural of “ingredient” — a component of a mixture or compound

From this reading “Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.”

strew verb US /struː/

spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)

From this reading “After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.”

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.

olive oil adjective + noun

oil from olives

In this reading “Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.”

few minutes adjective + noun

In this reading “After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.”

strew over verb + particle

In this reading “After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.”

All words in this reading · 54

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.

80

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

From this reading No. 80.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

AddverbUS /æd/

make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading Add a few spoonsful of very good boiling gravy, and cook for another half-hour.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Add a few spoonsful of very good boiling gravy, and cook for another half-hour.

BeefnounUS /biːf/

cattle that are reared for their meat

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

boilingnounUS /ˈbɔɪlɪŋ/

the application of heat to change something from a liquid to a gas

From this reading Add a few spoonsful of very good boiling gravy, and cook for another half-hour.

Bue

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

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

choppedadjectiveUS /tʃɑːpt/

prepared by cutting

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

connounUS /kɑːn/

an argument opposed to a proposal

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

cookverbUS /kʊk/

prepare a hot meal

From this reading Add a few spoonsful of very good boiling gravy, and cook for another half-hour.

cookedadjectiveUS /kʊkt/

having been prepared for eating by the application of heat

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

CutverbUS /kʌt/

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

di

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

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

Filetto

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

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

FilletnounUS /fəˈleɪ/

a boneless steak cut from the tenderloin of beef

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

FilletsnounUS /ˈfɪlɪts/

plural of “fillet” — a boneless steak cut from the tenderloin of beef

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

flournounUS /ˈflaʊər/

fine powdery foodstuff obtained by grinding and sifting the meal of a cereal grain

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

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

From this reading Add a few spoonsful of very good boiling gravy, and cook for another half-hour.

gravynounUS /ˈɡreɪvi/

a sauce made by adding stock, flour, or other ingredients to the juice and fat that drips from cooking meats

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

half-hournounUS /ˈhæfaʊər/

a half of an hour

From this reading Add a few spoonsful of very good boiling gravy, and cook for another half-hour.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

IngredientsnounUS /ˌɪnˈɡriːdiənts/

plural of “ingredient” — a component of a mixture or compound

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No. 80.

nutsadjectiveUS /nʌts/

informal or slang terms for mentally irregular

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

oilnounUS /ɔɪl/

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

oliveadjectiveUS /ˈɑːləv/

of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

piecenounUS /piːs/

a separate part of a whole

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

Pistacchi

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

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

pistacchio

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

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

Pistacchios

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

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/

a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

saltnounUS /sɔːlt/

a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

spoonsful

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

From this reading Add a few spoonsful of very good boiling gravy, and cook for another half-hour.

stewpannoun

a saucepan used for stewing

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

strewverbUS /struː/

spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

tablespoonfulnoun

as much as a tablespoon will hold

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

tenderadjectiveUS /ˈtendər/

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Cut a piece of tender beef into little fillets, and put a them in a stewpan with a tablespoonful of olive oil and salt.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading After they have cooked for a few minutes, powder them with flour, and strew over each fillet some chopped pistacchio nuts.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Add a few spoonsful of very good boiling gravy, and cook for another half-hour.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Filetto di Bue con Pistacchi (Fillets of Beef with Pistacchios) Ingredients: Fillet of beef, oil, salt, flour, pistacchio nuts, gravy.

Chapter 5 of The Cook's Decameron by W. G., Mrs. Waters holds 801 sentences, grouped into 161 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 5 of The Cook's Decameron contain?

Chapter 5 holds 801 sentences of The Cook's Decameron, unabridged, divided into 161 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Cook's Decameron by W. G., Mrs. Waters exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 801 sentences, grouped into 161 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 5 of The Cook's Decameron?

Work through the 161 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 161 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Cook's Decameron

Common questions about reading The Cook's Decameron by W. G., Mrs. Waters on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Cook's Decameron?

Yes. All 2576 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #930 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Cook's Decameron is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #930, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Cook's Decameron take to read?

About 214 minutes of reading across 516 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Cook's Decameron section by section

How to work through The Cook's Decameron section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 5 chapters of The Cook's Decameron 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 Cook's Decameron

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Cook's Decameron, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Containing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Cook's Decameron; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hundred
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Cook's Decameron; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Recipes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Cook's Decameron; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Italian
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Cook's Decameron; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.