Cranford — Page 12

English → It CHAPTER I. Level 7/10

He nodded and smiled to his acquaintances; but he shook hands with none until he had helped Miss Brown to unfurl her umbrella, had relieved her of her prayer-book, and had waited patiently till she, with trembling nervous hands, had taken up her gown to walk through the wet roads.

Fece un cenno del capo e sorrise ai suoi conoscenti; ma non strinse la mano a nessuno finché non ebbe aiutato la signorina Brown ad aprire il suo ombrello, non le ebbe tolto il libro di preghiere, e non ebbe aspettato pazientemente che lei, con mani tremanti e nervose, avesse sollevato la gonna per camminare lungo le strade bagnate.

I wonder what the Cranford ladies did with Captain Brown at their parties.

Mi chiedo cosa facessero le signore di Cranford con il Capitano Brown alle loro feste.

We had often rejoiced, in former days, that there was no gentleman to be attended to, and to find conversation for, at the card-parties.

Ci eravamo spesso rallegrate, nei giorni passati, che non ci fosse nessun gentiluomo di cui occuparsi e con cui intrattenere la conversazione, alle serate di carte.

We had congratulated ourselves upon the snugness of the evenings; and, in our love for gentility, and distaste of mankind, we had almost persuaded ourselves that to be a man was to be "vulgar"; so that when I found my friend and hostess, Miss Jenkyns, was going to have a party in my honour, and that Captain and the Miss Browns were invited, I wondered much what would be the course of the evening.

Ci eravamo congratulate con noi stesse per la comodità delle serate; e, nel nostro amore per la distinzione e la nostra avversione per il genere maschile, ci eravamo quasi convinte che essere un uomo significasse essere "volgare"; così che quando seppi che la mia amica e ospite, la signorina Jenkyns, avrebbe dato una festa in mio onore, e che il Capitano e le signorine Brown erano stati invitati, mi chiesi molto quale sarebbe stato il corso della serata.

Card-tables, with green baize tops, were set out by daylight, just as usual; it was the third week in November, so the evenings closed in about four.

I tavoli da carte, con i piani ricoperti di panno verde, erano stati sistemati di giorno, come al solito; era la terza settimana di novembre, quindi le serate si facevano buie verso le quattro.

Candles, and clean packs of cards, were arranged on each table.

Candele e mazzi di carte nuovi erano disposti su ogni tavolo.

The fire was made up; the neat maid-servant had received her last directions; and there we stood, dressed in our best, each with a candle-lighter in our hands, ready to dart at the candles as soon as the first knock came.

Il fuoco era stato ravvivato; la linda domestica aveva ricevuto le sue ultime istruzioni; e lì stavamo, vestite con i nostri abiti migliori, ciascuna con un accenditoio in mano, pronte a scattare verso le candele non appena fosse giunto il primo colpo alla porta.

Vocabulary

Fece: FE-che — He/she did or made (past tense of fare)
un: un — A, an (masculine indefinite article)
cenno: CHEN-no — A nod, gesture, or slight signal
del: del — Of the (masculine singular contraction)
capo: KA-po — Head, chief, or leader of something
sorrise: sor-RI-ze — He/she smiled (past tense of sorridere)
ai: ai — To the (masculine plural contraction)
suoi: SWOI — His, her, their own (possessive adjective)
conoscenti: ko-no-SHEN-ti — Acquaintances, people one knows casually
strinse: STRIN-ze — He/she shook or gripped (past tense stringere)
mano: MA-no — Hand (part of the human body)
nessuno: nes-SU-no — Nobody, no one, not anyone
finché: fin-KE — Until, as long as (subordinating conjunction)
ebbe: EB-be — He/she had (past tense of avere)
aiutato: a-yu-TA-to — Helped, assisted (past participle of aiutare)
signorina: si-nyo-RI-na — Miss, young unmarried woman (title)
aprire: a-PRI-re — To open (infinitive verb)
suo: SU-o — His, her, its (possessive adjective)
ombrello: om-BREL-lo — Umbrella used for protection from rain
tolto: TOL-to — Taken away, removed (past participle of togliere)
libro: LI-bro — Book (printed or written publication)
preghiere: pre-GHYE-re — Prayers (religious supplications or devotions)
aspettato: as-pet-TA-to — Waited, expected (past participle of aspettare)
pazientemente: pa-tsyen-te-MEN-te — Patiently, with calm endurance
lei: lei — She, her (third-person feminine pronoun)
mani: MA-ni — Hands (plural of mano)
tremanti: tre-MAN-ti — Trembling, shaking (adjective)
nervose: ner-VO-ze — Nervous, anxious (feminine plural adjective)
avesse: a-VES-se — Had (past subjunctive of avere)
sollevato: sol-le-VA-to — Lifted, raised (past participle of sollevare)
gonna: GON-na — Skirt (women's lower garment)
camminare: kam-mi-NA-re — To walk (infinitive verb)
lungo: LUN-go — Along, long (preposition or adjective)
strade: STRA-de — Streets, roads (plural of strada)
bagnate: ban-YA-te — Wet, soaked (feminine plural adjective)
Mi: mi — Me, myself (first-person reflexive/object pronoun)
chiedo: KYE-do — I wonder, I ask (present tense of chiedere)
cosa: KO-za — What, thing (interrogative or noun)
facessero: fa-CHES-se-ro — They did/would do (past subjunctive of fare)
signore: si-NYO-re — Ladies, women (plural of signora)
Capitano: ka-pi-TA-no — Captain (military or naval officer title)
loro: LO-ro — Their, them, they (third-person plural pronoun)
feste: FES-te — Parties, celebrations, festivals (plural)
Ci: chi — Us, ourselves, there (reflexive/locative pronoun)
eravamo: e-RA-va-mo — We were (imperfect tense of essere)
spesso: SPES-so — Often, frequently (adverb)
rallegrate: ral-le-GRA-te — Cheered, gladdened (past participle of rallegrare)
giorni: DJOR-ni — Days (plural of giorno)
passati: pas-SA-ti — Past, gone by (masculine plural adjective)
ci: chi — Us, there, ourselves (pronoun/adverb)
fosse: FOS-se — There was (past subjunctive of essere)
nessun: nes-SUN — No, not any (masculine singular adjective)
gentiluomo: djen-ti-LWO-mo — Gentleman, man of good social standing
cui: kwi — Whom, which (relative pronoun)
occuparsi: ok-ku-PAR-si — To take care of, to concern oneself
intrattenere: in-trat-te-NE-re — To entertain, to keep company with someone
conversazione: kon-ver-za-TSYO-ne — Conversation, talk between people
serate: se-RA-te — Evenings, evening gatherings or events
carte: KAR-te — Cards (playing cards used in games)
congratulate: kon-gra-tu-LA-te — Congratulated (past participle of congratularsi)
noi: noi — We, us (first-person plural pronoun)
stesse: STES-se — Ourselves, same (reflexive or adjective)
comodità: ko-mo-di-TA — Comfort, convenience, ease of living
nostro: NOS-tro — Our (masculine singular possessive adjective)
amore: a-MO-re — Love, deep affection for someone or something
distinzione: dis-tin-TSYO-ne — Distinction, difference, refinement or elegance
nostra: NOS-tra — Our (feminine singular possessive adjective)
avversione: av-ver-SYO-ne — Aversion, strong dislike or opposition to something
genere: JE-ne-re — Gender, kind, type or genre
maschile: mas-KI-le — Male, masculine (adjective)
quasi: KWA-zi — Almost, nearly, as if (adverb)
convinte: kon-VIN-te — Convinced, persuaded (feminine plural adjective)
essere: ES-se-re — To be (infinitive of the verb essere)
uomo: WO-mo — Man, adult male human being
significasse: si-nyi-fi-KAS-se — Meant, signified (past subjunctive of significare)
volgare: vol-GA-re — Vulgar, coarse, common, lacking refinement
così: ko-ZI — So, thus, in this way (adverb)
quando: KWAN-do — When (temporal conjunction or adverb)
seppi: SEP-pi — I learned, I found out (past tense of sapere)
mia: MI-a — My (feminine singular possessive adjective)
amica: a-MI-ka — Female friend (feminine noun)
ospite: OS-pi-te — Guest, host (person receiving or being received)
avrebbe: a-VREB-be — Would have (conditional of avere)
dato: DA-to — Given (past participle of dare)
festa: FES-ta — Party, celebration, holiday or festivity
mio: MI-o — My (masculine singular possessive adjective)
onore: o-NO-re — Honor, respect, prestige or glory
signorine: si-nyo-RI-ne — Young ladies, misses (plural of signorina)
erano: E-ra-no — They were (imperfect tense of essere)
stati: STA-ti — Been (past participle of essere, masculine plural)
invitati: in-vi-TA-ti — Invited (past participle of invitare)
chiesi: KYE-zi — I asked, I wondered (past tense of chiedere)
molto: MOL-to — Very, much, a lot (adverb or adjective)
quale: KWA-le — Which, what (interrogative or relative adjective)
sarebbe: sa-REB-be — Would be (conditional of essere)
stato: STA-to — Been, state (past participle of essere or noun)
corso: KOR-so — Course, path, flow of events
serata: se-RA-ta — Evening, an evening's events or gathering
tavoli: TA-vo-li — Tables (plural of tavolo)
piani: PYA-ni — Floors, flat surfaces, plans (plural of piano)
ricoperti: ri-ko-PER-ti — Covered, coated (past participle of ricoprire)
panno: PAN-no — Cloth, fabric (material used for covering)
verde: VER-de — Green (color adjective)
sistemati: sis-te-MA-ti — Arranged, set up, organized (past participle)
giorno: DJOR-no — Day (unit of time, daylight hours)
come: KO-me — As, like, how (conjunction or adverb)
solito: SO-li-to — Usual, customary (as in 'al solito', as usual)
era: E-ra — Was (imperfect tense of essere)
terza: TER-tsa — Third (feminine ordinal number adjective)
settimana: set-ti-MA-na — Week (unit of seven days)
novembre: no-VEM-bre — November (eleventh month of the year)
quindi: KWIN-di — Therefore, so, then (causal adverb)
facevano: fa-CHE-va-no — They became, they did (imperfect of fare)
buie: BU-ye — Dark (feminine plural adjective)
verso: VER-so — Toward, around (preposition of direction/time)
quattro: KWAT-tro — Four (cardinal number)
Candele: kan-DE-le — Candles (wax lights used for illumination)
mazzi: MAT-tsi — Bunches, bundles (plural of mazzo)
nuovi: NWO-vi — New (masculine plural adjective)
disposti: dis-POS-ti — Arranged, placed (past participle of disporre)
ogni: ON-yi — Every, each (invariable adjective)
tavolo: TA-vo-lo — Table (piece of furniture)
fuoco: FWO-ko — Fire, flames (element producing heat and light)
ravvivato: rav-vi-VA-to — Revived, stirred up (past participle of ravvivare)
linda: LIN-da — Neat, tidy, clean (adjective)
domestica: do-MES-ti-ka — Maid, domestic servant (feminine noun)
aveva: a-VE-va — Had (imperfect tense of avere)
ricevuto: ri-che-VU-to — Received (past participle of ricevere)
sue: SU-e — Her, his (feminine plural possessive adjective)
ultime: UL-ti-me — Last, final (feminine plural adjective)
istruzioni: is-tru-TSYO-ni — Instructions, directions (plural noun)
lì: li — There, in that place (adverb of place)
stavamo: sta-VA-mo — We were standing/staying (imperfect of stare)
vestite: ves-TI-te — Dressed, clothed (feminine plural past participle)
nostri: NOS-tri — Our (masculine plural possessive adjective)
abiti: A-bi-ti — Clothes, garments, outfits (plural of abito)
migliori: mi-LYO-ri — Better, best (comparative plural adjective)
ciascuna: cha-SKU-na — Each one, every one (feminine singular pronoun)
accenditoio: at-chen-di-TO-yo — Lighter, fire-starting device for candles
pronte: PRON-te — Ready, prepared (feminine plural adjective)
scattare: skat-TA-re — To spring, to snap, to leap quickly
candele: kan-DE-le — Candles (wax sticks providing light)
appena: ap-PE-na — As soon as, barely, just (adverb/conjunction)
giunto: DJUN-to — Arrived, reached (past participle of giungere)
primo: PRI-mo — First (masculine singular ordinal adjective)
colpo: KOL-po — Knock, blow, strike (sudden impact or sound)
porta: POR-ta — Door (entrance to a room or building)

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