The Expedition of Humphry Clinker — Page 1

Vocabulary

Ho

I have; first person singular of avere

ricevuto

Received; past participle of ricevere

la

The; feminine singular definite article

vostra

Your; feminine singular formal or plural possessive

lettera

Letter; written message sent to someone

per

For, by, through; common preposition with many uses

posta

Mail, post; system for delivering letters

ordinaria

Ordinary, regular; standard and not special

e

And; basic coordinating conjunction

sarò

I will be; first person future of essere

lieto

Glad, pleased; feeling happiness or satisfaction

di

Of, to; very common Italian preposition

trattare

To deal with, negotiate, treat a subject

con

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means

voi

You; second person plural or formal pronoun

il

The; masculine singular definite article

manoscritto

Manuscript; handwritten or unpublished written work

che

That, which, who; relative pronoun or conjunction

ho

I have; first person singular present of avere

consegnato

Delivered, handed over; past participle of consegnare

al

To the; contraction of a and il

vostro

Your; masculine singular formal or plural possessive

amico

Friend; a person one knows and trusts

signor

Mr.; title of respect used before a surname

ma

But; conjunction expressing contrast or contradiction

non

Not; basic negation word in Italian

posso

I can; first person singular present of potere

in

In, into; preposition indicating location or state

alcun

Any, no; indefinite adjective used in negation

modo

Way, manner, mode; how something is done

accettare

To accept; to agree to receive or consent

le

The; feminine plural definite article

condizioni

Conditions, terms; requirements or stipulations of agreement

proposte

Proposed, put forward; past participle of proporre

Queste

These; feminine plural demonstrative adjective or pronoun

cose

Things; objects or matters in general

sono

Are; third person plural present of essere

così

So, thus, like this; adverb of manner

incerte

Uncertain, unsure; not reliable or predictable

scrittura

Writing; the act or craft of writing

è

Is; third person singular present of essere

tutta

All, entire; feminine singular of tutto

una

A, one; feminine singular indefinite article

lotteria

Lottery; game of chance with uncertain outcomes

avuto

Had; past participle of avere

perdite

Losses; financial or other negative outcomes suffered

opere

Works; artistic or literary creations or productions

dei

Of the; contraction of di and i

più

More, most; comparative or superlative adverb

grandi

Great, large; plural adjective of grande

uomini

Men; plural of uomo, adult male humans

dell'

Of the; contraction of di and l'

epoca

Era, epoch; a distinct period in history

potrei

I could; first person conditional of potere

citare

To cite, quote; to mention as an example

casi

Cases; specific instances or examples of something

specifici

Specific; particular and clearly defined instances

fare

To do, make; extremely common Italian verb

nomi

Names; words used to identify people or things

lo

Him, it; masculine singular direct object pronoun

scelgo

I choose; first person singular present of scegliere

gusto

Taste; preference or aesthetic sensibility

del

Of the; contraction of di and il

pubblico

Public, audience; people in general or spectators

mutevole

Changeable, fickle; prone to frequent change