The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People — Page 5

Vocabulary

antes

Before, indicating something happens prior to another event.

permitir

To permit or allow someone to do something.

case

Subjunctive form of casar; to marry or wed someone.

terá

Future tense of ter; will have to do something.

esclarecer

To clarify or shed light on a matter or question.

toda

Feminine form of todo; meaning 'all', 'every', or 'entire'.

questão

A question, issue, or matter under discussion or dispute.

Toca

Rings or sounds; third-person present of tocar, to ring.

campainha

A small bell or doorbell used to signal someone's arrival.

quer

Third-person of querer; wants, or used in 'what does that mean'.

dizer

To say or to mean something; infinitive of the verb.

conheço

First-person of conhecer; I know or am acquainted with someone.

ninguém

Indefinite pronoun meaning 'nobody' or 'no one' at all.

nome

A name; the word or label identifying a person or thing.

Entra

Enters; third-person present of entrar, used in stage directions.

Traga

Imperative of trazer; bring something to someone right now.

aquela

Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' referring to distant feminine noun.

cigarreira

A cigarette case used to carry and store cigarettes.

Sr

Abbreviation for Senhor; equivalent of English 'Mr' in Portuguese.

deixou

Past tense of deixar; left something behind in a place.

sala

A room, typically a living room or sitting room.

fumar

To smoke; infinitive used to describe the act of smoking.

última

Last or most recent; feminine form of último.

vez

Time or occasion; as in 'the last time' something happened.

jantou

Past tense of jantar; had dinner or dined at a place.

aqui

Adverb meaning 'here', indicating a nearby location or place.

senhor

Sir or mister; formal address for a male person.

sai

Exits; third-person present of sair, used in stage directions.

dizendo

Gerund of dizer; saying or telling something to someone.

ficou

Past tense of ficar; stayed, remained, or became something.

todo

All or entire; masculine form indicating the whole of something.

esse

Masculine demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' near the listener.

tempo

Time or weather; a broad term covering duration or period.

queria

Imperfect of querer; wanted or wished for something in past.

muito

Adverb or adjective meaning 'very', 'much', or 'a lot'.

tivesse

Imperfect subjunctive of ter; had, used in hypothetical clauses.

avisado

Warned or notified; past participle of avisar, to inform.

escrito

Past participle of escrever; written, as in letters composed previously.

cartas

Letters; written correspondence sent to someone via post or mail.

desesperadas

Desperate; frantic letters written in a state of hopelessness.

respeito

Respect, or 'a respeito de' meaning 'regarding' or 'about' something.

Estava

Past imperfect of estar; was, indicating an ongoing past state.

perto

Near or close to; indicating proximity in space or degree.

oferecer

To offer something, such as a reward, to someone else.

grande

Large or great; adjective describing size or importance of something.

recompensa

A reward offered in exchange for finding something or someone.

Bem

Well or good; used as an interjection or affirmative response.

oferecesse

Imperfect subjunctive of oferecer; would have offered in hypothesis.

acaso

By chance; 'por acaso' means 'by any chance' or 'perhaps'.

mais

More or anymore; comparative adverb indicating greater degree.

endividado

In debt; adjective describing someone who owes money to others.

costume

Custom or habit; usual practice or normal state of affairs.

adianta

It helps or is of use; from adiantar, to advance or benefit.

agora

Now; adverb indicating the present moment in time.

coisa

Thing or object; a general term for any item or matter.

foi

Past tense of ir or ser; went or was, third-person singular.

encontrada

Found; feminine past participle of encontrar, to find or encounter.

bandeja

A tray used to carry or display items such as food.

pega

Grabs or picks up; third-person of pegar, to take or grab.

imediatamente

Immediately; without delay, right away at that very moment.

Acho

First-person of achar; I think or find something to be true.

bastante

Quite or enough; indicating a sufficient or notable degree.

mesquinho

Mean, petty, or stingy in behavior toward others.

parte

Part or side; 'da sua parte' means 'on your part'.

devo

First-person of dever; I owe or I must do something.

Abre

Opens; third-person or imperative of abrir, to open something.

examina

Examines or inspects; third-person of examinar, to look closely.

entanto

'No entanto' means 'however' or 'nevertheless'; a contrast connector.

importa

Matters or is important; 'não importa' means 'it doesn't matter'.

pois

Conjunction meaning 'because', 'since', or 'so' in context.

olho

I look or eye; first-person of olhar or the noun 'eye'.

inscrição

An inscription or engraving written inside an object.

interior

Interior or inside; the inner part of an object or space.

descubro

First-person of descobrir; I discover or find out something.

afinal

After all or finally; indicates a conclusion or revelation.

Claro

Of course or clear; used to express obvious agreement or certainty.

Aproximando

Approaching or drawing near; gerund of aproximar, to come close.

dele

Contraction of 'de' and 'ele'; meaning 'of him' or 'his'.

viu

Past tense of ver; saw or noticed something or someone.

centenas

Hundreds; large quantities counted in groups of one hundred.

vezes

Times or occasions; plural of vez, indicating frequency or repetition.

nenhum

No or none; masculine pronoun indicating absence of something.

direito

Right or privilege; entitlement to do or have something.

ler

To read; infinitive of the verb describing the act of reading.