A Modest Proposal: For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick — Page 1

Vocabulary

Una

Indefinite article, feminine singular: 'a' or 'an'

Modesta

Modest, humble, or unassuming in nature

Proposta

A proposal or suggestion put forward formally

Per

Preposition meaning 'for,' 'by,' or 'through'

evitare

To avoid or prevent something from happening

che

Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that,' 'which,' or 'who'

i

Definite article, masculine plural: 'the'

figli

Children or sons of a family

dei

Contraction of 'di' and 'i,' meaning 'of the'

poveri

Poor people; those lacking financial resources

in

Preposition meaning 'in' or 'into'

Irlanda

Ireland, an island nation in northwestern Europe

siano

Subjunctive form of 'essere': 'may be' or 'are'

un

Indefinite article, masculine singular: 'a' or 'an'

peso

A burden, weight, or heavy responsibility

loro

Third-person plural pronoun: 'their,' 'them,' or 'they'

genitori

Parents; the mother and father of a child

o

Conjunction meaning 'or,' offering an alternative

il

Definite article, masculine singular: 'the'

paese

Country, nation, or small town or village

e

Conjunction meaning 'and,' connecting words or clauses

renderli

To make them or render them a certain way

utili

Useful, helpful, or beneficial to others

al

Contraction of 'a' and 'il,' meaning 'to the'

pubblico

The public, general population, or community at large

di

Preposition meaning 'of,' 'from,' or 'by'

È

Third-person singular of 'essere': 'is' or 'it is'

uno

Indefinite article or number: 'a,' 'an,' or 'one'

spettacolo

A spectacle, show, or striking sight to behold

malinconico

Melancholic, sad, or inspiring a sense of sorrow

coloro

Pronoun meaning 'those' or 'those who'

camminano

They walk or stroll through a place

questa

Demonstrative adjective: 'this,' feminine singular form

grande

Large, great, or important in size or significance

città

A city or large urban settlement

viaggiano

They travel or journey through a place

la

Definite article or pronoun, feminine singular: 'the' or 'her'

campagna

The countryside or rural landscape outside cities

quando

Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when' or 'whenever'

vedono

They see or observe something with their eyes

le

Definite article or pronoun, feminine plural: 'the' or 'them'

strade

Streets or roads in a town or city

vie

Ways, paths, or streets leading somewhere

porte

Doors or gates of buildings or dwellings

delle

Contraction of 'di' and 'le,' meaning 'of the'

capanne

Huts or shanties, simple primitive dwellings

affollate

Crowded or packed with many people

mendicanti

Beggars who ask strangers for money or food

sesso

Sex or gender, biological classification of organisms

femminile

Feminine or female, relating to women or girls

seguite

Followed, accompanied by others behind them

da

Preposition meaning 'by,' 'from,' or 'since'

tre

The number three

quattro

The number four

sei

The number six

tutti

All or everyone, referring to an entire group

stracci

Rags or tattered pieces of old worn clothing

importunano

They pester or bother others persistently and annoyingly

ogni

Every or each, referring to all members individually

passante

A passerby, someone walking past on the street

chiedendo

Asking or requesting something from someone else

l'

Elided definite article 'lo' or 'la' before vowels

elemosina

Alms or charity given to beggars in need

Queste

Demonstrative adjective: 'these,' feminine plural form

madri

Mothers; female parents of children

invece

Instead or on the contrary, indicating a contrast

poter

Truncated infinitive of 'potere': to be able to

lavorare

To work or labor at a job or task

guadagnarsi

To earn for oneself through effort or work

onestamente

Honestly or in an upright, ethical manner

vivere

To live or exist; to sustain one's life

sono

First-person plural or third-person plural of 'essere': 'am' or 'are'

costrette

Forced or compelled to do something against will

a

Preposition meaning 'to,' 'at,' or 'in'

impiegare

To employ, use, or spend time or resources

tutto

All, entire, or every part of something

tempo

Time or weather; a period or duration

vagabondare

To wander or roam aimlessly without a destination

mendicare

To beg for charity or alms from others

sostentamento

Sustenance or the means of supporting one's life

indifesi

Defenseless or unprotected, unable to protect themselves

bambini

Children or young kids of a young age

crescendo

Growing up or increasing gradually over time

diventano

They become or turn into something over time

ladri

Thieves or robbers who steal from others

mancanza

A lack or absence of something needed

lavoro

Work, job, or employment as a means of livelihood

abbandonano

They abandon or leave behind a place or person

caro

Dear, beloved, or expensive in price

natale

Native place of birth; also Christmas in Italian

combattere

To fight or battle against an enemy or force

Pretendente

A pretender or claimant to a throne or title

Spagna

Spain, a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe

si

Reflexive pronoun or particle meaning 'oneself' or 'each other'

vendono

They sell or offer something in exchange for money

alle

Contraction of 'a' and 'le,' meaning 'to the'

Ritengo

I believe or consider something to be true

tutte

All, feminine plural form referring to every group

parti

Parts, sides, or parties involved in a matter

concordino

Subjunctive: may agree or concur on a point

sul

Contraction of 'su' and 'il,' meaning 'on the'

fatto

Fact, deed, or something done or accomplished

questo

Demonstrative adjective: 'this,' masculine singular form

prodigioso

Prodigious, extraordinary, or astonishingly large in number

numero

Number or quantity of persons or things

tra

Preposition meaning 'between,' 'among,' or 'within'

braccia

Arms of the body; also a unit of measurement

sulle

Contraction of 'su' and 'le,' meaning 'on the'

spalle

Shoulders; the upper body part between neck and arms

ai

Contraction of 'a' and 'i,' meaning 'to the'

piedi

Feet; the lower extremities of the human body

spesso

Often or frequently; also thick in some contexts

padri

Fathers; male parents or patriarchal figures

rappresenti

Subjunctive: may represent or constitute something significant

nell'

Contraction of 'in' and 'l',' meaning 'in the'

attuale

Current, present, or existing at this moment in time

deplorevole

Deplorable, lamentable, or worthy of strong condemnation

stato

State, condition, or status of a situation or nation

del

Contraction of 'di' and 'il,' meaning 'of the'

regno

Kingdom or realm governed by a monarch

ulteriore

Further, additional, or beyond what already exists

gravissimo

Extremely serious or very severe in consequence

disagio

Discomfort, unease, or hardship experienced by people

pertanto

Therefore or consequently, introducing a logical conclusion

chiunque

Whoever or anyone who meets a certain condition

riuscisse

Subjunctive past of 'riuscire': were to succeed or manage

trovare

To find or discover something or someone

metodo

A method or systematic approach to achieving a goal

equo

Fair, equitable, or just in treatment or distribution

economico

Economical, inexpensive, or relating to economics

semplice

Simple, easy, or not complicated in nature

rendere

To make, render, or cause something to become

questi

Demonstrative pronoun: 'these,' masculine plural form

membri

Members or parts belonging to a group or body

sani

Healthy, sound, or in good physical condition

della

Contraction of 'di' and 'la,' meaning 'of the'

comunità

Community or group of people sharing common interests

meriterebbe

Would deserve or merit recognition or reward

così

So, thus, or in such a way

tanto

So much, a great deal, or very much

collettività

The collective community or society as a whole

avere

To have; an auxiliary verb in Italian grammar

statua

A statue or sculptural figure erected in honor

eretta

Erected, raised, or built upright in a place

suo

Possessive adjective: 'his,' 'her,' or 'its'

onore

Honor, respect, or esteem given to someone

come

As, like, or how; used in comparisons

salvatore

Savior or rescuer who saves others from danger

nazione

Nation or country defined by shared identity and governance