The Confessions of St. Augustine — Page 13

English → It BOOK I Level 9/10

When they named any thing, and as they spoke turned towards it, I saw and remembered that they called what they would point out by the name they uttered.

Quando nominavano qualcosa, e mentre parlavano si voltavano verso di essa, vedevo e ricordavo che chiamavano ciò che volevano indicare con il nome che pronunciavano.

And that they meant this thing and no other was plain from the motion of their body, the natural language, as it were, of all nations, expressed by the countenance, glances of the eye, gestures of the limbs, and tones of the voice, indicating the affections of the mind, as it pursues, possesses, rejects, or shuns.

E che intendessero questa cosa e non un'altra era chiaro dal movimento del loro corpo, il linguaggio naturale, per così dire, di tutte le nazioni, espresso dal volto, dagli sguardi degli occhi, dai gesti delle membra e dai toni della voce, che indicavano le affezioni della mente, mentre essa persegue, possiede, rifiuta o fugge.

And thus by constantly hearing words, as they occurred in various sentences, I collected gradually for what they stood; and having broken in my mouth to these signs, I thereby gave utterance to my will.

E così, ascoltando continuamente le parole, man mano che comparivano in varie frasi, raccoglievo gradualmente il loro significato; e avendo abituato la mia bocca a questi segni, davo così espressione alla mia volontà.

Thus I exchanged with those about me these current signs of our wills, and so launched deeper into the stormy intercourse of human life, yet depending on parental authority and the beck of elders.

Così scambiai con coloro che mi stavano intorno questi correnti segni delle nostre volontà, e mi lanciai più a fondo nel tempestoso commercio della vita umana, dipendendo tuttavia dall'autorità dei genitori e dal cenno degli anziani.

O God my God, what miseries and mockeries did I now experience, when obedience to my teachers was proposed to me, as proper in a boy, in order that in this world I might prosper, and excel in tongue-science, which should serve to the "praise of men," and to deceitful riches.

O Dio mio Dio, quante miserie e derisioni sperimentai allora, quando mi fu proposta l'obbedienza ai miei maestri, come si addice a un fanciullo, affinché in questo mondo potessi prosperare ed eccellere nella scienza della parola, che avrebbe dovuto servire alla «lode degli uomini» e alle ricchezze ingannevoli.

Next I was put to school to get learning, in which I (poor wretch) knew not what use there was; and yet, if idle in learning, I was beaten.

Poi fui mandato a scuola per apprendere, nella quale io (povero misero) non sapevo a che cosa servisse; eppure, se ero pigro nell'apprendere, venivo picchiato.

Vocabulary

Quando: KWAN-doh — Conjunction meaning 'when,' introducing temporal clauses.
nominavano: noh-mee-NAH-vah-noh — They named or called something; imperfect tense of nominare.
qualcosa: kwahl-KOH-zah — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'something.'
e: eh — Conjunction meaning 'and,' connecting words or clauses.
mentre: MEN-treh — Conjunction meaning 'while,' indicating simultaneous actions.
parlavano: par-LAH-vah-noh — They were speaking; imperfect tense of parlare.
si: see — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself,' 'herself,' or 'themselves.'
voltavano: vol-TAH-vah-noh — They turned; imperfect tense of voltarsi.
verso: VER-soh — Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'in the direction of.'
di: dee — Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from,' very common in Italian.
essa: ES-sah — Third-person singular feminine pronoun meaning 'it' or 'she.'
vedevo: veh-DEH-voh — I was seeing; imperfect tense of vedere.
ricordavo: ree-kor-DAH-voh — I was remembering; imperfect tense of ricordare.
che: keh — Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that,' 'which,' or 'who.'
chiamavano: kyah-MAH-vah-noh — They were calling; imperfect tense of chiamare.
ciò: choh — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'this thing.'
volevano: voh-LEH-vah-noh — They wanted; imperfect tense of volere.
indicare: een-dee-KAH-reh — To indicate or point out something specific.
con: kon — Preposition meaning 'with,' showing accompaniment or means.
il: eel — Definite article meaning 'the' for masculine singular nouns.
nome: NOH-meh — Noun meaning 'name' of a person, place, or thing.
pronunciavano: proh-noon-CHAH-vah-noh — They were pronouncing; imperfect tense of pronunciare.
E: eh — Conjunction meaning 'and,' connecting words or clauses.
intendessero: een-ten-DES-seh-roh — They meant or intended; imperfect subjunctive of intendere.
questa: KWES-tah — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' for feminine nouns.
cosa: KOH-zah — Noun meaning 'thing' or 'matter.'
non: non — Adverb of negation meaning 'not.'
un': oon — Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' before feminine vowels.
altra: AL-trah — Adjective meaning 'other' or 'another' for feminine nouns.
era: EH-rah — Third-person singular imperfect of essere, meaning 'was.'
chiaro: KYAH-roh — Adjective meaning 'clear,' 'obvious,' or 'bright.'
dal: dahl — Contraction of 'da' and 'il,' meaning 'from the.'
movimento: moh-vee-MEN-toh — Noun meaning 'movement' or 'motion' of the body.
del: del — Contraction of 'di' and 'il,' meaning 'of the.'
loro: LOH-roh — Third-person plural pronoun meaning 'their' or 'they.'
corpo: KOR-poh — Noun meaning 'body,' referring to the physical form.
linguaggio: leen-GWAHD-joh — Noun meaning 'language' or 'mode of expression.'
naturale: nah-too-RAH-leh — Adjective meaning 'natural,' occurring in nature or instinctively.
per: pehr — Preposition meaning 'for,' 'through,' or 'in order to.'
così: koh-ZEE — Adverb meaning 'so,' 'thus,' or 'in this way.'
dire: DEE-reh — Infinitive meaning 'to say' or 'to speak.'
tutte: TOOT-teh — Adjective meaning 'all' for feminine plural nouns.
le: leh — Definite article meaning 'the' for feminine plural nouns.
nazioni: nah-TSYOH-nee — Plural noun meaning 'nations' or 'peoples.'
espresso: es-PRES-soh — Adjective or past participle meaning 'expressed' or 'conveyed.'
volto: VOL-toh — Noun meaning 'face' or 'countenance.'
dagli: DAL-yee — Contraction of 'da' and 'gli,' meaning 'by the' (masculine plural).
sguardi: ZWAHR-dee — Plural noun meaning 'gazes' or 'glances.'
degli: DEL-yee — Contraction of 'di' and 'gli,' meaning 'of the' (masculine plural).
occhi: OK-kee — Plural noun meaning 'eyes.'
dai: dah-ee — Contraction of 'da' and 'i,' meaning 'from the' (masculine plural).
gesti: JES-tee — Plural noun meaning 'gestures' or 'movements of the hands.
delle: DEL-leh — Contraction of 'di' and 'le,' meaning 'of the' (feminine plural).
membra: MEM-brah — Plural noun meaning 'limbs' or 'members of the body.'
toni: TOH-nee — Plural noun meaning 'tones' or 'intonations of voice.'
della: DEL-lah — Contraction of 'di' and 'la,' meaning 'of the' (feminine singular).
voce: VOH-cheh — Noun meaning 'voice' or 'sound produced by speaking.
indicavano: een-dee-KAH-vah-noh — They were indicating; imperfect tense of indicare.
affezioni: ahf-feh-TSYOH-nee — Plural noun meaning 'affections' or 'feelings of the mind.'
mente: MEN-teh — Noun meaning 'mind' or 'intellect.'
persegue: pehr-SEH-gweh — Third-person singular of perseguire, meaning 'pursues.'
possiede: pos-SYEH-deh — Third-person singular of possedere, meaning 'possesses.'
rifiuta: ree-FYOO-tah — Third-person singular of rifiutare, meaning 'refuses' or 'rejects.'
o: oh — Conjunction meaning 'or,' presenting an alternative.
fugge: FOOD-jeh — Third-person singular of fuggire, meaning 'flees' or 'avoids.'
ascoltando: ahs-kol-TAN-doh — Gerund meaning 'listening,' indicating ongoing attention to sounds.
continuamente: kon-tee-nwah-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'continuously' or 'without interruption.'
parole: pah-ROH-leh — Plural noun meaning 'words.'
man: mahn — Part of the phrase 'man mano,' meaning 'gradually' or 'little by little.'
mano: MAH-noh — Noun meaning 'hand'; part of 'man mano' meaning gradually.
comparivano: kom-pah-REE-vah-noh — They were appearing; imperfect tense of comparire.
in: een — Preposition meaning 'in' or 'into,' indicating location.
varie: VAH-ryeh — Adjective meaning 'various' or 'different' (feminine plural).
frasi: FRAH-zee — Plural noun meaning 'phrases' or 'sentences.'
raccoglievo: rahk-kol-LYEH-voh — I was gathering or collecting; imperfect of raccogliere.
gradualmente: grah-dwahl-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'gradually' or 'step by step.'
significato: seen-yee-fee-KAH-toh — Noun meaning 'meaning' or 'significance' of a word.
avendo: ah-VEN-doh — Gerund of avere meaning 'having,' used in compound constructions.
abituato: ah-bee-TWAH-toh — Past participle of abituare, meaning 'accustomed' or 'trained.'
la: lah — Definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'her.'
mia: MEE-ah — Possessive adjective meaning 'my' for feminine singular nouns.
bocca: BOK-kah — Noun meaning 'mouth,' the organ used for speaking.
a: ah — Preposition meaning 'to,' 'at,' or 'in.'
questi: KWES-tee — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' for masculine plural nouns.
segni: SEN-yee — Plural noun meaning 'signs' or 'symbols.'
davo: DAH-voh — I was giving; imperfect tense of dare.
espressione: es-pres-SYOH-neh — Noun meaning 'expression' of thoughts or feelings.
alla: AL-lah — Contraction of 'a' and 'la,' meaning 'to the' (feminine).
volontà: voh-lon-TAH — Noun meaning 'will' or 'desire' to do something.
Così: koh-ZEE — Adverb meaning 'thus' or 'in this way.'
scambiai: skahm-BYAH-ee — I exchanged; passato remoto of scambiare.
coloro: koh-LOH-roh — Pronoun meaning 'those' or 'those people.'
mi: mee — Reflexive or indirect pronoun meaning 'me' or 'to me.'
stavano: STAH-vah-noh — They were; imperfect tense of stare, indicating position or state.
intorno: een-TOR-noh — Adverb or preposition meaning 'around' or 'surrounding.'
correnti: kor-REN-tee — Plural noun meaning 'currents' or 'flows'; also 'common.'
nostre: NOS-treh — Possessive adjective meaning 'our' for feminine plural nouns.
lanciai: lan-CHAH-ee — I launched or threw myself; passato remoto of lanciare.
più: pyoo — Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most,' indicating greater degree.
fondo: FON-doh — Noun meaning 'depth' or 'bottom'; also 'fund.'
nel: nel — Contraction of 'in' and 'il,' meaning 'in the.'
tempestoso: tem-pes-TOH-zoh — Adjective meaning 'stormy' or 'turbulent.'
commercio: kom-MER-choh — Noun meaning 'commerce,' 'trade,' or 'social intercourse.'
vita: VEE-tah — Noun meaning 'life.'
umana: oo-MAH-nah — Adjective meaning 'human' for feminine singular nouns.
dipendendo: dee-pen-DEN-doh — Gerund meaning 'depending,' indicating reliance on something.
tuttavia: toot-tah-VEE-ah — Adverb meaning 'nevertheless' or 'however.'
dall': dahl — Contraction of 'da' and 'l',' meaning 'from the.'
autorità: ah-oo-toh-ree-TAH — Noun meaning 'authority' or 'power to command.
dei: deh-ee — Contraction of 'di' and 'i,' meaning 'of the' (masculine plural).
genitori: jeh-nee-TOH-ree — Plural noun meaning 'parents.'
cenno: CHEN-noh — Noun meaning 'nod,' 'signal,' or 'hint.'
anziani: ahn-TSYAH-nee — Plural noun or adjective meaning 'elders' or 'elderly people.'
O: oh — Exclamation 'O' used in direct address or invocation.
Dio: DEE-oh — Noun meaning 'God.'
mio: MEE-oh — Possessive adjective meaning 'my' for masculine singular nouns.
quante: KWAHN-teh — Exclamatory adjective meaning 'how many' (feminine plural).
miserie: mee-ZEH-ryeh — Plural noun meaning 'miseries' or 'hardships.'
derisioni: deh-ree-ZYOH-nee — Plural noun meaning 'mockeries' or 'acts of ridicule.'
sperimentai: speh-ree-men-TAH-ee — I experienced; passato remoto of sperimentare.
allora: ahl-LOH-rah — Adverb meaning 'then' or 'at that time.'
quando: KWAN-doh — Conjunction meaning 'when,' introducing temporal clauses.
fu: foo — Third-person singular passato remoto of essere, meaning 'was.'
proposta: proh-POS-tah — Past participle of proporre, meaning 'proposed' or 'put forward.'
l': l — Elided definite article meaning 'the' before a vowel.
obbedienza: ob-beh-DYEN-tsah — Noun meaning 'obedience' or 'compliance with authority.'
ai: ah-ee — Contraction of 'a' and 'i,' meaning 'to the' (masculine plural).
miei: MYEH-ee — Possessive adjective meaning 'my' for masculine plural nouns.
maestri: mah-ES-tree — Plural noun meaning 'teachers' or 'masters.'
come: KOH-meh — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'as,' 'like,' or 'how.'
un: oon — Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' for masculine nouns.
fanciullo: fahn-CHOOL-loh — Noun meaning 'boy' or 'young child.'
affinché: ahf-feen-KEH — Conjunction meaning 'so that' or 'in order that.'
questo: KWES-toh — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' for masculine singular nouns.
mondo: MON-doh — Noun meaning 'world.'
potessi: poh-TES-see — I could; imperfect subjunctive of potere.
prosperare: pros-peh-RAH-reh — Infinitive meaning 'to prosper' or 'to thrive.'
ed: ed — Variant of 'e' meaning 'and,' used before vowels.
eccellere: et-CHEL-leh-reh — Infinitive meaning 'to excel' or 'to stand out.'
nella: NEL-lah — Contraction of 'in' and 'la,' meaning 'in the' (feminine).
scienza: SHEN-tsah — Noun meaning 'science' or 'knowledge.'
parola: pah-ROH-lah — Noun meaning 'word' or 'speech.'
avrebbe: ah-VREB-beh — Third-person singular conditional of avere, meaning 'would have.'
dovuto: doh-VOO-toh — Past participle of dovere, meaning 'should have' or 'owed.'
servire: ser-VEE-reh — Infinitive meaning 'to serve' or 'to be useful for.'
lode: LOH-deh — Noun meaning 'praise' or 'honor.'
uomini: WOH-mee-nee — Plural noun meaning 'men.'
alle: AL-leh — Contraction of 'a' and 'le,' meaning 'to the' (feminine plural).
ricchezze: reek-KET-tseh — Plural noun meaning 'riches' or 'wealth.'
ingannevoli: een-gahn-NEH-voh-lee — Adjective meaning 'deceitful' or 'misleading.'
Poi: poh-ee — Adverb meaning 'then,' 'afterward,' or 'next.'
fui: foo-ee — I was; first-person singular passato remoto of essere.
mandato: mahn-DAH-toh — Past participle of mandare, meaning 'sent.'
scuola: SKWOH-lah — Noun meaning 'school.'
apprendere: ahp-PREN-deh-reh — Infinitive meaning 'to learn' or 'to acquire knowledge.'
quale: KWAH-leh — Pronoun or adjective meaning 'which' or 'what.'
io: EE-oh — First-person singular pronoun meaning 'I.'
povero: POH-veh-roh — Adjective meaning 'poor' or 'wretched.'
misero: MEE-zeh-roh — Adjective meaning 'miserable' or 'wretched.'
sapevo: sah-PEH-voh — I knew; imperfect tense of sapere.
servisse: ser-VIS-seh — It might serve; imperfect subjunctive of servire.
eppure: ep-POO-reh — Conjunction meaning 'and yet' or 'nevertheless.'
se: seh — Conjunction meaning 'if,' introducing conditional clauses.
ero: EH-roh — I was; first-person singular imperfect of essere.
pigro: PEE-groh — Adjective meaning 'lazy' or 'sluggish.'
nell': nel — Contraction of 'in' and 'l',' meaning 'in the' before a vowel.
venivo: veh-NEE-voh — I was being; imperfect of venire used in passive constructions.
picchiato: peek-KYAH-toh — Past participle of picchiare, meaning 'beaten' or 'hit.'

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