A Room with a View — Page 4

Vocabulary

Anche

Also, too; indicates inclusion or addition

era

Was; third person singular imperfect of essere

perplessa

Perplexed, puzzled, confused (feminine adjective)

ma

But; conjunction indicating contrast

si

Reflexive pronoun; oneself, herself, himself

accorse

Realized, noticed; past tense of accorgersi

che

That, which, who; subordinating conjunction or pronoun

stava

Was; imperfect of stare, used in progressive constructions

per

For, to, in order to; common Italian preposition

assistere

To witness, attend, assist; observe an event

a

To, at; basic Italian preposition of place or direction

quella

That (feminine); demonstrative adjective or pronoun

viene

Comes; third person singular present of venire

definita

Defined, called; past participle of definire (feminine)

una

A, an; feminine indefinite article

bella

Beautiful, fine; feminine adjective describing scenata

scenata

Scene, outburst; loud dramatic quarrel or confrontation

e

And; basic Italian coordinating conjunction

aveva

Had; third person singular imperfect of avere

la

The; feminine definite article

strana

Strange, odd; feminine adjective modifying sensazione

sensazione

Sensation, feeling; a perceived or felt impression

ogni

Every, each; invariable adjective of totality

volta

Time, occasion; ogni volta means each time

quei

Those (masculine plural); demonstrative adjective

turisti

Tourists; plural noun for people traveling for leisure

maleducati

Rude, ill-mannered; adjective describing impolite people

aprivano

Were opening; imperfect tense of aprire, third plural

bocca

Mouth; the opening in the face used for speaking

contesa

Dispute, quarrel, contest; a conflict between parties

allargasse

Would widen, expand; imperfect subjunctive of allargare

approfondisse

Would deepen; imperfect subjunctive of approfondire

finché

Until, as long as; temporal conjunction

non

Not; standard Italian negation word

riguardava

Concerned, regarded; imperfect of riguardare

più

More, anymore; indicates greater degree or negation

le

The (feminine plural); definite article or indirect pronoun

stanze

Rooms; plural of stanza, spaces within a building

vedute

Views, vistas; panoramic sights seen from a place

beh

Well; interjection expressing hesitation or consideration

qualcosa

Something; indefinite pronoun referring to an unspecified thing

di

Of, from; very common Italian preposition

tutto

All, entirely; adjective or pronoun indicating totality

diverso

Different, various; adjective indicating distinction from another

cui

Whose, which, whom; relative pronoun used with prepositions

esistenza

Existence; the state or fact of existing

lei

She, her; third person feminine singular pronoun

realizzato

Realized, understood; past participle of realizzare

prima

Before, earlier; temporal adverb indicating prior time

Ora

Now; adverb indicating the current moment

il

The; masculine singular definite article

vecchio

Old man, old; noun or adjective referring to advanced age

attaccò

Attacked, started; past tense of attaccare, began aggressively

quasi

Almost, nearly; adverb indicating proximity to a state

con

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or manner

violenza

Violence; forceful aggressive behavior or intensity

Perché

Why, because; interrogative or causal conjunction

mai

Ever, never; adverb used in questions or negations

doveva

Had to, should; imperfect of dovere expressing obligation

cambiare

To change; to alter or switch something

Quale

Which, what; interrogative adjective or pronoun

possibile

Possible; adjective indicating something that can happen

obiezione

Objection; a reason expressed against something proposed

poteva

Could; imperfect of potere expressing past ability

avere

To have; fundamental Italian auxiliary and main verb

Loro

They, them; third person plural pronoun

sarebbero

Would be; conditional of essere, third person plural

liberati

Freed, liberated; past participle of liberare (plural)

in

In, into; common Italian preposition of location

mezz'

Half; shortened form of mezza before hora

ora

Hour; unit of time equal to sixty minutes

pur

Even though, although; concessive particle

essendo

Being; gerund of essere used in concessive constructions

esperta

Expert, skilled; feminine adjective indicating proficiency

nelle

In the (feminine plural); contraction of in + le

sottigliezze

Subtleties, nuances; fine delicate distinctions in behavior

della

Of the (feminine); contraction of di + la

conversazione

Conversation; an exchange of words between people

impotente

Powerless, helpless; unable to act or respond effectively

fronte

Front, face; di fronte a means in front of

alla

To the (feminine); contraction of a + la

brutalità

Brutality; extreme roughness or coarseness in behavior

Era

Was; imperfect of essere, third singular

impossibile

Impossible; not able to happen or be done

stroncare

To cut off, quash; to stop something abruptly

sul

On the (masculine); contraction of su + il

nascere

To be born, arise; to come into existence

qualcuno

Someone, somebody; indefinite pronoun for a person

così

So, thus, like this; adverb of manner or degree

rozzo

Crude, coarse, rough; lacking refinement or manners

Il

The; masculine singular definite article

suo

His, her, its; third person possessive adjective

viso

Face; the front part of the head

arrossì

Blushed; past tense of arrossire, turned red

disappunto

Disappointment; feeling of dissatisfaction from unmet expectations

Si

Reflexive pronoun; oneself, used with reflexive verbs

guardò

Looked; past tense of guardare, directed one's gaze

intorno

Around; adverb indicating surrounding area or vicinity

come

Like, as, how; conjunction or adverb of manner

dire

To say, to tell; fundamental Italian verb of speech

Siete

You are (plural); second person plural present of essere

tutti

All, everyone; plural adjective or pronoun of totality

E

And; coordinating conjunction linking clauses or words

due

Two; the number 2

vecchiette

Little old ladies; diminutive plural of vecchia

erano

Were; third person plural imperfect of essere

sedute

Seated, sitting; past participle of sedere (feminine plural)

là

There; adverb indicating a place away from speaker

al

At the, to the; contraction of a + il

tavolo

Table; a piece of furniture with a flat surface

gli

The (masculine plural); definite article or indirect pronoun

scialli

Shawls; plural of scialle, wraps worn over shoulders

appesi

Hung, hanging; past participle of appendere (masculine plural)

agli

To the (masculine plural); contraction of a + gli

schienali

Backrests; the back parts of chairs or seats

delle

Of the (feminine plural); contraction of di + le

sedie

Chairs; plural of sedia, basic seating furniture

ricambiarono

Returned, exchanged back; past tense of ricambiare

lo

Him, it; masculine singular direct object pronoun

sguardo

Gaze, look, glance; a directed visual expression

indicando

Indicating, showing; gerund of indicare

chiaramente

Clearly, plainly; adverb indicating without ambiguity

Noi

We; first person plural subject pronoun

no

No; negative response or interjection

noi

We; first person plural subject pronoun

siamo

We are; first person plural present of essere

bene

Well, fine; adverb indicating a good state

Mangia

Eat (imperative); second person singular command to eat

tua

Your (feminine); second person singular possessive adjective

cena

Dinner; the evening meal

cara

Dear, darling; affectionate feminine address term

disse

Said; past tense of dire, third singular

ricominciò

Began again; past tense of ricominciare

gingillarsi

To fiddle, dawdle; to play idly with something

carne

Meat, flesh; food from animal muscle tissue

già

Already, yes indeed; adverb of prior occurrence

criticato

Criticized; past participle of criticare, judged negatively

borbottò

Muttered, grumbled; past tense of borbottare

quelle

Those (feminine plural); demonstrative adjective or pronoun

sembravano

Seemed; imperfect of sembrare, third person plural

persone

People, persons; plural of persona

molto

Very, much; adverb or adjective of high degree

strane

Strange, odd (feminine plural); adjective of peculiarity

loro

Their, they, them; third person plural pronoun or adjective

Questa

This (feminine); demonstrative adjective or pronoun

pensione

Guesthouse, boarding house; small hotel offering meals

è

Is; third person singular present of essere

un

A, an; masculine indefinite article

fallimento

Failure, bankruptcy; a complete lack of success

Domani

Tomorrow; the day following today

troveremo

We will find; future tense of trovare, first plural

un'

A, an (feminine elided); feminine indefinite article

alternativa

Alternative; another option or choice available

Aveva

Had; third singular imperfect of avere

appena

Just, barely, as soon as; adverb of recency or limit

annunciato

Announced; past participle of annunciare

questa

This (feminine); demonstrative adjective referring to nearby thing

funesta

Fateful, dire, disastrous; feminine adjective of ill omen

decisione

Decision; a choice or resolution made after consideration

quando

When; temporal conjunction or interrogative adverb

ribaltò

Overturned, reversed; past tense of ribaltare

Le

The (feminine plural); definite article

tende

Curtains, drapes; fabric panels hung at windows or doorways

fondo

Back, bottom, depth; far end of a room or space

sala

Hall, room; a large room in a building

aprirono

Opened; past tense of aprire, third person plural

rivelarono

Revealed; past tense of rivelare, brought to light

ecclesiastico

Ecclesiastic, clergyman; relating to or a member of church

robusto

Robust, sturdy; strong and healthy in appearance

bell'

Handsome, beautiful (elided); fine appearance before vowel

aspetto

Appearance, aspect; the way someone or something looks

affrettò

Hurried; past tense of affrettarsi, moved quickly

raggiungere

To reach, join; to arrive at or catch up with

posto

Place, seat, spot; a specific location or position

tavola

Table (dining); a table set for a meal

scusandosi

Apologizing; gerund of scusarsi, excusing oneself

allegramente

Cheerfully, merrily; in a happy lighthearted manner

ritardo

Delay, lateness; being behind the expected time