The Scarlet Letter — Page 15

Vocabulary

Radicata

Rooted or deeply established in something

in

In, into; basic preposition of location

profondità

Depth; the quality of being deep

nella

In the; contraction of in and la

prima

First; earliest in time or order

infanzia

Infancy; the earliest stage of childhood

e

And; basic coordinating conjunction

fanciullezza

Childhood; early years of a person's life

della

Of the; feminine singular contraction

città

City; an urban settlement or town

da

By, from; preposition indicating origin or agent

questi

These; masculine plural demonstrative pronoun

due

Two; the cardinal number 2

uomini

Men; plural of uomo, adult male humans

seri

Serious; grave or earnest in manner

ed

And; variant of e used before vowels

energici

Energetic; vigorous and full of energy

la

The; feminine singular definite article

stirpe

Lineage; family line or ancestral stock

ha

Has; third person singular of avere

allora

Then; at that time or consequently

sempre

Always; at all times without exception

vissuto

Lived; past participle of vivere, to live

qui

Here; in this place or location

anche

Also, too; indicating addition or inclusion

rispettabilità

Respectability; quality of being socially respectable

mai

Never; at no time, or ever in questions

per

For, by, through; versatile Italian preposition

quanto

How much, as far as; quantity or extent

io

I; first person singular subject pronoun

sappia

May know; subjunctive of sapere, to know

disonorata

Dishonored; disgraced or brought into shame

un

A, an; masculine singular indefinite article

singolo

Single; only one individual member

membro

Member; a person belonging to a group

indegno

Unworthy; lacking merit or moral worth

ma

But; conjunction indicating contrast or exception

raramente

Rarely; seldom, not often occurring

o

Or; conjunction presenting an alternative choice

d'

Of; elided form of di before a vowel

altra

Other; a different or additional one

parte

Part, side; a portion or direction

dopo

After; following in time or order

le

The; feminine plural definite article

prime

First; feminine plural of primo

generazioni

Generations; groups of people born in same era

compiendo

Accomplishing; gerund of compiere, to carry out

alcun

Any; used in negative contexts meaning no single

atto

Act, deed; an action performed by someone

memorabile

Memorable; worth remembering due to significance

solo

Only, alone; exclusively or by oneself

avanzando

Advancing; moving forward or putting forth

una

A, an; feminine singular indefinite article

pretesa

Claim, pretense; assertion of a right or demand

all'

To the; contraction of a and l' before vowel

attenzione

Attention; the act of noticing or focusing

pubblica

Public; relating to or open to everyone

Gradualmente

Gradually; slowly and by small degrees

sono

Are; first/third person plural of essere

quasi

Almost, nearly; not quite completely

scomparsi

Disappeared; past participle of scomparire

dalla

From the; feminine singular contraction of da and la

vista

Sight, view; the ability or act of seeing

come

Like, as, how; comparison or manner conjunction

vecchie

Old; feminine plural of vecchio, aged things

case

Houses; plural of casa, residential buildings

qua

Here; indicating a nearby place or direction

là

There; indicating a place farther away

strade

Streets; plural of strada, public roads or paths

vengono

Come, are; third person plural of venire

coperte

Covered; feminine plural past participle of coprire

fino

Until, up to; indicating a limit or boundary

a

To, at; basic preposition of direction or location

metà

Half; one of two equal parts of something

delle

Of the; feminine plural preposition contraction

gronde

Eaves; overhanging edges of a roof

dall'

From the; elided contraction of da and l'

accumulo

Accumulation; a gradual gathering or buildup

di

Of, from; very common Italian preposition

nuovo

New; recently made or not previously existing

terreno

Ground, soil; earth or land surface

Di

Of, from; preposition indicating possession or origin

padre

Father; male parent in a family

figlio

Son; male child of a parent

oltre

Over, beyond; more than a stated amount

cent'

Hundred; elided form of cento before vowel

anni

Years; plural of anno, units of time

seguirono

Followed; third person plural past of seguire

il

The; masculine singular definite article

mare

Sea; large body of salt water

capitano

Captain; commander of a ship or crew

dai

From the; masculine plural contraction of da and i

capelli

Hair; strands growing on a person's head

grigi

Gray; of a color between black and white

ogni

Every, each; referring to all members individually

generazione

Generation; a single stage in family succession

si

Oneself; reflexive pronoun for all persons

ritirava

Retreated, withdrew; imperfect of ritirarsi

dal

From the; masculine singular contraction of da and il

poppa

Stern; the rear part of a ship

alla

To the; feminine singular contraction of a and la

casa

House, home; a place where one lives

natia

Native; of the place where one was born

mentre

While; during the same time as something else

ragazzo

Boy, young man; a male youth

quattordici

Fourteen; the cardinal number 14

prendeva

Was taking; imperfect of prendere, to take

posto

Place, position; a spot or assigned location

ereditario

Hereditary; passed down through family generations

davanti

In front of; ahead or before something

albero

Tree; also mast of a sailing ship

maestro

Main, master; principal or chief in rank

affrontando

Facing, confronting; gerund of affrontare

tempesta

Storm; a violent weather disturbance at sea

che

That, which, who; relative or subordinating conjunction

aveva

Had; third person singular imperfect of avere

contro

Against; in opposition to or facing someone

suo

His, her; third person singular possessive adjective

nonno

Grandfather; father's or mother's male parent

Il

The; masculine singular definite article

lui

He, him; third person singular masculine pronoun

tempo

Time, weather; duration or atmospheric conditions

debito

Due; proper or owed, as in in due time

passò

Passed; third person singular past of passare

castello

Castle; also forecastle, the front deck of a ship

prua

Bow; the front section of a ship

cabina

Cabin; a small room aboard a ship

trascorse

Spent, passed; third person singular past of trascorrere

virilità

Manhood, virility; the period or quality of being a man

tempestosa

Stormy, turbulent; full of storms or conflict

tornò

Returned; third person singular past of tornare

suoi

His, her; third person plural possessive adjective

vagabondaggi

Wanderings; journeys made without fixed destination

mondo

World; the earth and all its inhabitants

invecchiare

To grow old; to age over time

morire

To die; to cease living

mescolare

To mix, to blend; combining things together

sua

His, her; feminine singular possessive adjective

polvere

Dust; fine dry particles of matter

con

With; in the company of or together with

terra

Earth, land, ground; soil or native soil

natale

Native, natal; of or relating to one's birth

Questo

This; masculine singular demonstrative pronoun

lungo

Long; extended in duration or distance

legame

Bond, tie; a connection linking people or things

famiglia

Family; a group of related people

unico

Unique, only; being the sole one

luogo

Place; a specific location or spot

nascita

Birth; the event of being born

sepoltura

Burial; the act of burying a dead person

crea

Creates; third person singular of creare

parentela

Kinship; a relationship or connection between people

tra

Between, among; indicating a relationship or space

l'

The; elided definite article before a vowel

essere

Being; to be, or a living entity

umano

Human; relating to or characteristic of people

località

Locality; a specific place or small community

del

Of the; masculine singular preposition contraction

tutto

All, everything; completely or entirely

indipendente

Independent; not relying on or connected to others

qualsiasi

Any, whatever; of any kind whatsoever

fascino

Charm, fascination; an attractive or captivating quality

paesaggio

Landscape; the visible natural scenery of an area

circostanze

Circumstances; the conditions surrounding a situation

morali

Moral; relating to principles of right and wrong

lo

Him, it; masculine singular direct object pronoun

circondano

Surround; third person plural of circondare

Non

Not; negation particle used before verbs

è

Is; third person singular of essere, to be

amore

Love; deep affection or romantic feeling

istinto

Instinct; an innate natural impulse or tendency