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The House by the Medlar-Tree
The House by the Medlar-Tree

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of The House by the Medlar-Tree is here in full — 448 sentences across 90 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The House by the Medlar-Tree
Context Illustration Reading 1/89 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Oh, I don’t mind, Cousin Tino,” answered Rocco Spatu.
It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.
I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.
A good handful, eh, Cousin Tino?”
Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.
0:00 / 0:00
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The House by the Medlar-Tree

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of The House by the Medlar-Tree is here in full — 448 sentences across 90 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/89 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Oh, I don’t mind, Cousin Tino,” answered Rocco Spatu.
Line 2
It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.
Line 3
I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.
Line 4
A good handful, eh, Cousin Tino?”
Line 5
Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.

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.

cats noun US /kæts/

plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading ““It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.”

handful noun US /ˈhændfʊl/

a small number or amount

From this reading “A good handful, eh, Cousin Tino?””

hostess noun US /ˈhoʊstəs/

a woman host

From this reading ““Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.”

lets noun US /lets/

plural of “let” — a brutal terrorist group active in Kashmir; fights against India with the goal of restoring Islamic rule of India

From this reading “I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.”

pig noun US /pɪɡ/

domestic swine

From this reading ““It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.”

spitting noun US /ˈspɪtɪŋ/

the act of spitting (forcefully expelling saliva)

From this reading ““Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.”

sweetheart noun US /ˈswiːthɑːrt/

a person loved by another person

From this reading “I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.”

trusts noun US /trʌsts/

plural of “trust” — something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)

From this reading ““It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.”

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.

want any verb + adjective

In this reading “I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.”

in the sand preposition + article + noun counted as “in … sand”

In this reading ““Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.”

All words in this reading · 61

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 “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading “Oh, I don’t mind, Cousin Tino,” answered Rocco Spatu.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

billnounUS /bɪl/

a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading “Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.

catsnounUS /kæts/

plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

CousinnounUS /ˈkʌzən/

the child of your aunt or uncle

From this reading “Oh, I don’t mind, Cousin Tino,” answered Rocco Spatu.

creditnounUS /ˈkredət/

approval

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

don't

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

From this reading “Oh, I don’t mind, Cousin Tino,” answered Rocco Spatu.

eh

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

From this reading A good handful, eh, Cousin Tino?”

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

falseadjectiveUS /fɔːls/

not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

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

From this reading A good handful, eh, Cousin Tino?”

handfulnounUS /ˈhændfʊl/

a small number or amount

From this reading A good handful, eh, Cousin Tino?”

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading “Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.

hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/

a woman host

From this reading “Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Oh, I don’t mind, Cousin Tino,” answered Rocco Spatu.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

letsnounUS /lets/

plural of “let” — a brutal terrorist group active in Kashmir; fights against India with the goal of restoring Islamic rule of India

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

Mangiacarubbe

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

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “Oh, I don’t mind, Cousin Tino,” answered Rocco Spatu.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading “Oh, I don’t mind, Cousin Tino,” answered Rocco Spatu.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

pignounUS /pɪɡ/

domestic swine

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

Pizzuti

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

From this reading “Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.

PrettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading “Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.

Rocco

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

From this reading “Oh, I don’t mind, Cousin Tino,” answered Rocco Spatu.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.

sandnounUS /sænd/

a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral

From this reading “Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.

Santuzza

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

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

Spatu

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

From this reading “Oh, I don’t mind, Cousin Tino,” answered Rocco Spatu.

spittingnounUS /ˈspɪtɪŋ/

the act of spitting (forcefully expelling saliva)

From this reading “Pretty hostess, heavy bill,” said Pizzuti, spitting in the sand.

sweetheartnounUS /ˈswiːthɑːrt/

a person loved by another person

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

Tino

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

From this reading “Oh, I don’t mind, Cousin Tino,” answered Rocco Spatu.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

trustsnounUS /trʌsts/

plural of “trust” — something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

weeknounUS /wiːk/

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

whoever

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

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

winenounUS /waɪn/

fermented juice (of grapes especially)

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

womankindnoun

women as distinguished from men

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

worseadjectiveUS /wɜːrs/

(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

From this reading “It is nothing to me; for whoever trusts to one of those false cats of womankind is worse than a pig.

worthnounUS /wɜːrθ/

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading I don’t want any sweetheart except Santuzza, who lets me have my wine on credit when I like, and she is worth two of the Mangiacarubbe any day of the week.

Chapter 6 of The House by the Medlar-Tree by Giovanni Verga holds 448 sentences, grouped into 90 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 6 of The House by the Medlar-Tree contain?

Chapter 6 holds 448 sentences of The House by the Medlar-Tree, unabridged, divided into 90 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of The House by the Medlar-Tree by Giovanni Verga exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 448 sentences, grouped into 90 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 6 of The House by the Medlar-Tree?

Work through the 90 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 90 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 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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 House by the Medlar-Tree

Common questions about reading The House by the Medlar-Tree by Giovanni Verga on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The House by the Medlar-Tree?

Yes. All 3128 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #54684 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The House by the Medlar-Tree is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #54684, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The House by the Medlar-Tree take to read?

About 260 minutes of reading across 626 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The House by the Medlar-Tree section by section

How to work through The House by the Medlar-Tree section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 7 chapters of The House by the Medlar-Tree 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 House by the Medlar-Tree

Words and structures a reader meets early in The House by the Medlar-Tree, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Introduction
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The House by the Medlar-Tree; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Howells
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The House by the Medlar-Tree; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Loves
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The House by the Medlar-Tree; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Simplicity
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The House by the Medlar-Tree; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.