A Tale of Two Cities — Page 6

Vocabulary

Dapprima

At first; initially, before something else happens

dormì

He/she slept (past tense of dormire)

profondamente

Deeply; in a profound or intense manner

ma

But; conjunction introducing a contrasting idea

a

To, at; basic Italian preposition of location or direction

poco

Little; a small amount or degree of something

cominciò

He/she began (past tense of cominciare)

rigirarsi

To toss and turn; to roll around restlessly

e

And; basic coordinating conjunction linking words or clauses

ad

To, at; variant of 'a' used before vowels

agitarsi

To become agitated; to stir or move restlessly

nel

In the; contraction of 'in' and masculine article 'il'

letto

Bed; furniture used for sleeping and resting

finché

Until; as long as a condition or event continues

non

Not; basic Italian negation word

emerse

Emerged; came out or surfaced from below

dalla

From the; contraction of 'da' and feminine article 'la'

superficie

Surface; the outer or top layer of something

con

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or manner

i

The; masculine plural definite article in Italian

capelli

Hair; the strands growing on a person's head

irti

Bristling; standing on end, rough or disheveled

che

That, which, who; versatile conjunction or relative pronoun

sembravano

They seemed; appeared to be (imperfect of sembrare)

dover

To have to; contracted infinitive form of dovere

fare

To do, to make; fundamental Italian verb of action

brandelli

Shreds, tatters; small torn pieces of fabric or material

le

The; feminine plural definite article in Italian

lenzuola

Sheets; bed linens used for covering while sleeping

A

At, to; preposition indicating time or location

quel

That; masculine singular demonstrative adjective

punto

Point, moment; a specific instance or location in time

esclamò

Exclaimed; cried out suddenly with emotion

una

A, an; feminine singular indefinite article

voce

Voice; the sound produced when a person speaks

di

Of, from; very common Italian preposition of possession

terribile

Terrible; causing great fear, distress, or displeasure

esasperazione

Exasperation; intense irritation or frustration beyond tolerance

Che

That, what; used in exclamations or subordinate clauses

mi

Me, to me; first person singular object pronoun

venga

May come; subjunctive form of venire expressing wish

un

A, an; masculine singular indefinite article

colpo

Blow, stroke; a sudden hit or stroke (also 'stroke' medically)

se

If; conditional conjunction introducing a hypothetical clause

sta

Is; third person singular present of stare

ancora

Still, yet, again; indicating continuation or repetition

farlo

To do it; infinitive fare combined with object pronoun

Una

A; feminine indefinite article introducing a noun phrase

donna

Woman; an adult female person

dall'

From the; contraction of 'da' and article before vowel

aspetto

Appearance; the way someone or something looks visually

ordinato

Neat, tidy; well-arranged and organized in appearance

laborioso

Hardworking; characterized by diligence and steady effort

si

Oneself; reflexive pronoun used with reflexive verbs

alzò

Rose, got up; stood up from a position (past tense)

dalle

From the; contraction of 'da' and feminine plural article

ginocchia

Knees; the joints between upper and lower leg

in

In; basic preposition indicating location or state

angolo

Corner; the point where two walls or lines meet

sufficiente

Sufficient; enough to meet a required standard or need

fretta

Hurry, haste; the state of moving or acting quickly

trepidazione

Trepidation; nervous anxiety or fearful apprehension

da

From, by; preposition of origin, cause, or agent

dimostrare

To demonstrate, show; to prove or make evident clearly

era

Was; third person singular imperfect of essere

lei

She, her; third person singular feminine pronoun

la

The; feminine singular definite article in Italian

persona

Person; an individual human being

questione

Question, matter; an issue or subject under discussion

Come

How; interrogative or exclamatory adverb of manner

disse

Said; third person singular past tense of dire

il

The; masculine singular definite article in Italian

signor

Mr.; honorific title used before a man's surname

cercando

Looking for, seeking; present participle of cercare

uno

One, a; masculine singular indefinite article or numeral

stivale

Boot; a tall protective footwear covering the leg

fuori

Outside, out; indicating position or movement away

dal

From the; contraction of 'da' and masculine article 'il'

Stai

You are; second person singular present of stare

eh

Eh; interjection seeking confirmation or expressing surprise

Dopo

After, afterwards; indicating something that follows in time

aver

Having; contracted infinitive of avere used in compounds

salutato

Greeted; past participle of salutare, to greet someone

mattino

Morning; the early part of the day before noon

questo

This; masculine singular demonstrative pronoun or adjective

secondo

Second; the ordinal number following first in sequence

saluto

Greeting; a gesture or word of welcome or farewell

lanciò

Threw, launched; hurled something with force or intention

come

As, like; conjunction or adverb of comparison or manner

terzo

Third; the ordinal number following second in sequence

Era

It was; imperfect tense third person singular of essere

molto

Very, much; adverb intensifying adjectives or verbs

infangato

Muddy, covered in mud; soiled with dirt and clay

ciò

This, that; neutral demonstrative pronoun referring to things

può

Can, may; third person singular present of potere

introdurre

To introduce; to bring in or present something new

strana

Strange, odd; unusual or difficult to explain or understand

circostanza

Circumstance; a fact or condition connected to an event

legata

Tied, linked; connected or related to something else

all'

To the; contraction of 'a' and article before vowel

economia

Economy; the management of resources, household or national

domestica

Domestic; relating to the home or household affairs

del

Of the; contraction of 'di' and masculine article 'il'

mentre

While; conjunction indicating two simultaneous actions

spesso

Often; frequently, on many occasions

tornava

Returned; used to return (imperfect of tornare)

casa

House, home; the place where one lives

dopo

After; following in time or order

l'

The; elided definite article used before a vowel

orario

Schedule, hours; a timetable or set working hours

bancario

Banking; relating to banks or financial institutions

gli

The, to him; masculine plural article or indirect pronoun

stivali

Boots; plural of stivale, tall protective footwear

puliti

Clean; free of dirt or stains, tidy and washed

alzava

Was getting up; imperfect tense of alzarsi, to rise

mattina

Morning; the early hours of the day

per

For, to, in order to; versatile Italian preposition

trovare

To find; to discover or come across something

stessi

Same; identical, or past subjunctive of stare

coperti

Covered; past participle of coprire, to cover something

argilla

Clay; a stiff, sticky fine-grained earth used in pottery

Cosa

What, thing; interrogative pronoun or common noun

variando

Varying; changing or altering (gerund of variare)

sua

His, her; feminine possessive adjective third person singular

apostrofe

Apostrophe; a rhetorical address or punctuation mark

mancato

Missed, failed; past participle of mancare, to miss

bersaglio

Target; the object or person aimed at or attacked

cosa

What, thing; used in questions or as a common noun

stai

You are; second person singular present of stare

combinando

Doing, plotting; gerund of combinare, often 'getting up to'

Stavo

I was; first person singular imperfect of stare

solo

Only, just, alone; indicating exclusivity or solitude

dicendo

Saying; gerund of dire, in the act of speaking

mie

My; feminine plural possessive adjective first person

preghiere

Prayers; religious petitions addressed to a divine being

Dire

To say; infinitive of the verb meaning to speak

tue

Your; feminine plural possessive adjective second person

Bella

Fine, nice; used sarcastically here meaning 'how lovely'

sei

You are; second person singular present of essere

intendi

You mean; second person singular present of intendere

buttandoti

Throwing yourself; gerund of buttarsi with reflexive pronoun

ginocchio

Knee; the joint in the middle of the human leg

pregando

Praying; gerund of pregare, in the act of praying

contro

Against; in opposition to someone or something

me

Me; first person singular stressed object pronoun

Non

Not; standard Italian negation particle

te

You; second person singular stressed object pronoun

è

Is; third person singular present tense of essere

vero

True; corresponding to fact or reality

E

And; coordinating conjunction linking words or clauses

anche

Also, even; indicating addition or inclusion

fosse

Were; past subjunctive of essere used in hypotheticals

prende

Takes; third person singular present of prendere

questa

This; feminine singular demonstrative pronoun or adjective

libertà

Freedom, liberty; the state of being free from constraints

Senti

Listen; imperative of sentire used to get attention

Tua

Your; feminine singular possessive adjective second person

madre

Mother; a female parent

bella

Beautiful, fine; attractive or ironic approval of something

giovane

Young; at an early stage of life or development

va

Goes; third person singular present of andare

pregare

To pray, to beg; to address a deity or implore someone

prosperità

Prosperity; the state of being successful and financially secure

tuo

Your; masculine singular possessive adjective second person

padre

Father; a male parent