Meditations — Page 2

Vocabulary

Così

So, thus; used to introduce a consequence or result

avvenne

It happened, it occurred; past tense of avvenire

che

That, which, who; common conjunction and pronoun

non

Not; standard Italian negation word

avendo

Having; gerund of avere, used in compound clauses

figli

Children, sons; plural of figlio

adottò

Adopted; past tense of adottare, to adopt

cambiandogli

Changing for him; gerund of cambiare with indirect pronoun

il

The; masculine singular definite article

nome

Name; word by which a person is known

in

In, into; common Italian preposition of location

quello

That one; masculine singular demonstrative pronoun

con

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means

cui

Which, whom; relative pronoun used after prepositions

è

Is; third person singular present of essere

conosciuto

Known; past participle of conoscere, to know

e

And; basic Italian coordinating conjunction

lo

Him, it; masculine singular direct object pronoun

fidanzò

Betrothed, engaged; past tense of fidanzare

sua

His, her; feminine singular possessive adjective

figlia

Daughter; female child of a parent

La

The; feminine singular definite article

educazione

Education, upbringing; process of teaching and training

fu

Was; third person singular past of essere

condotta

Conducted, carried out; past participle of condurre

ogni

Every, each; adjective indicating all members of a group

cura

Care, attention; careful effort applied to a task

I

The; masculine plural definite article

più

More, most; comparative and superlative adverb

abili

Skilled, able; plural adjective meaning capable or talented

insegnanti

Teachers; people who instruct or educate others

furono

Were; third person plural past of essere

ingaggiati

Hired, engaged; past participle of ingaggiare

per

For, through; versatile Italian preposition of purpose

lui

Him, he; masculine third person singular pronoun

ed

And; euphonic variant of e used before vowels

egli

He; formal masculine third person singular subject pronoun

istruito

Educated, instructed; past participle of istruire

nella

In the; contraction of in and la, feminine singular

rigida

Rigid, strict; feminine adjective meaning severe or inflexible

dottrina

Doctrine, teaching; set of principles or beliefs

della

Of the; contraction of di and la, feminine singular

filosofia

Philosophy; study of fundamental questions about existence

stoica

Stoic; relating to Stoic philosophy of self-control

era

Was; third person singular imperfect of essere

la

The; feminine singular definite article

grande

Great, big; adjective meaning large or important

gioia

Joy, delight; feeling of great happiness or pleasure

Gli

To him, the; indirect pronoun or masculine plural article

insegnato

Taught; past participle of insegnare, to teach

a

To, at; common Italian preposition of place or purpose

vestire

To dress; to wear or put on clothing

semplicemente

Simply; in a plain or unadorned manner

vivere

To live; to be alive or lead a particular life

sobrietà

Sobriety, moderation; quality of being restrained or temperate

evitando

Avoiding; gerund of evitare, to avoid or shun

mollezza

Softness, indulgence; tendency toward luxury and comfort

lusso

Luxury; great comfort and extravagant living

Il

The; masculine singular definite article

suo

His, her, its; masculine singular possessive adjective

corpo

Body; physical structure of a human or animal

temprato

Hardened, tempered; past participle of temprare

alla

To the; contraction of a and la, feminine singular

robustezza

Robustness, strength; quality of being physically strong

attraverso

Through, across; preposition indicating passage or means

lotta

Wrestling, struggle; physical contest or fight

caccia

Hunting; activity of pursuing wild animals

i

The; masculine plural definite article

giochi

Games, sports; plural of gioco, playful activities

all'

At the, to the; contraction of a and l' before vowel

aperto

Open, outdoors; adjective meaning not enclosed or covered

sebbene

Although, even though; concessive conjunction

costituzione

Constitution, physical build; bodily structure or strength

fosse

Were, was; imperfect subjunctive of essere

debole

Weak, frail; lacking physical or mental strength

mostrò

Showed, demonstrated; past tense of mostrare

coraggio

Courage, bravery; ability to face danger without fear

personale

Personal; relating to or belonging to an individual

nell'

In the; contraction of in and l' before vowel

affrontare

To face, to confront; to tackle something directly

cinghiali

Wild boars; large fierce wild pigs hunted for sport

feroci

Fierce, ferocious; plural adjective meaning savage or violent

Allo

At the, to the; contraction of a and lo

stesso

Same; adjective meaning identical or the very same

tempo

Time; general concept of duration or a moment

tenuto

Kept, held; past participle of tenere

lontano

Far, distant; adjective or adverb indicating distance

dalle

From the; contraction of da and le, feminine plural

stravaganze

Extravagances, excesses; plural of stravaganza, outrageous behavior

epoca

Era, epoch; historical period or age

eccitazione

Excitement, agitation; state of emotional arousal

rivalità

Rivalry; competition or opposition between opposing groups

delle

Of the; contraction of di and le, feminine plural

Fazioni

Factions; rival groups competing against one another

come

As, like, how; conjunction or adverb of comparison

venivano

Were called, came; imperfect of venire, third plural

chiamate

Called, named; past participle of chiamare, feminine plural

nel

In the; contraction of in and il, masculine singular

circo

Circus; Roman arena for chariot races and spectacles

conducenti

Drivers; those who drive or lead vehicles or animals

bighe

Chariots; ancient two-wheeled horse-drawn racing vehicles

erano

Were; third person plural imperfect of essere

soliti

Used to, accustomed; plural adjective from solito

adottare

To adopt; to take on or choose as one's own

uno

One; masculine numeral or indefinite article

di

Of, from; common Italian preposition of possession

quattro

Four; cardinal number four

colori

Colors; plural of colore, visual hues or shades

rosso

Red; the color of blood or fire

azzurro

Blue, azure; bright sky-blue color

bianco

White; the color of snow or milk

o

Or; coordinating conjunction expressing an alternative

verde

Green; the color of grass or leaves

loro

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

sostenitori

Supporters, fans; people who back a team or cause

mostravano

Showed, displayed; imperfect of mostrare, third plural

un

A, an; masculine singular indefinite article

ardore

Ardor, fervor; intense enthusiasm or passion

tifare

To cheer, to root for; to support a sports team enthusiastically

nulla

Nothing; no thing at all

poteva

Could; third person singular imperfect of potere

superare

To surpass, to exceed; to go beyond a limit or rival

Disordini

Disorders, disturbances; plural of disordine, unruly events

corruzione

Corruption; dishonest or immoral behavior, especially in power

seguivano

Followed; imperfect of seguire, third person plural

corteo

Procession, parade; organized group moving together formally

dei

Of the; contraction of di and i, masculine plural

carri

Chariots, carts; plural of carro, wheeled vehicles

da

From, by; preposition indicating origin or agent

corsa

Race, run; competitive speed event or running

tutte

All; feminine plural adjective meaning every one

queste

These; feminine plural demonstrative adjective

cose

Things; plural of cosa, general word for objects or matters

si

Himself, oneself; reflexive pronoun or impersonal marker

tenne

Kept, held; third person singular past of tenere

rigorosamente

Rigorously, strictly; in a strict and disciplined manner

Nel

In the; contraction of in and il, masculine singular

elevato

Elevated, raised; past participle of elevare, promoted

al

To the; contraction of a and il, masculine singular

consolato

Consulate, consulship; office of the Roman consul

fidanzamento

Engagement, betrothal; formal agreement to marry someone

concluse

Concluded, ended; past tense of concludere

matrimonio

Marriage, wedding; legal union between two people

Due

Two; cardinal number two

anni

Years; plural of anno, units of time

dopo

After, later; preposition or adverb of time

gli

To him; indirect object pronoun, masculine singular

diede

Gave; third person singular past of dare

una

A, an; feminine singular indefinite article

poco

A little, few; adverb or adjective of small quantity

altri

Other, others; plural adjective meaning additional or different

onori

Honors; plural of onore, marks of respect or distinction

imperiali

Imperial; relating to an empire or emperor

conferiti

Conferred, granted; past participle of conferire

morì

Died; third person singular past of morire

assunse

Assumed, took on; past tense of assumere

potere

Power; ability or authority to do something

imperiale

Imperial; relating to empire, emperor, or supreme rule

Egli

He; formal masculine third person singular subject pronoun

associò

Associated, joined; past tense of associare

immediatamente

Immediately; without any delay, at once

sé

Himself, itself; reflexive pronoun used with prepositions