The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse — Page 2

Vocabulary

C'

There is/are (contraction of 'ci' + verb)

erano

They were (past tense of 'essere')

metri

Meters, unit of measurement for length

corridoi

Corridors, long narrow passageways in a building

sabbiosi

Sandy, adjective describing something covered with sand

conducevano

They led, directed toward a destination or place

magazzini

Storerooms, spaces used for storing goods or supplies

cantine

Cellars, underground rooms for storing food or wine

noci

Walnuts, edible nuts from the walnut tree

semi

Seeds, small plant embryos used for growing

tutti

All, everyone, everything; inclusive pronoun or adjective

tra

Between, among; preposition indicating position or time

radici

Roots, underground plant structures absorbing water and nutrients

siepe

Hedge, dense row of shrubs forming a boundary

Illustrazione

Illustration, a picture or image in a book

dispensa

Pantry, small room for storing food and provisions

letto

Bed, furniture used for sleeping and resting

cucina

Kitchen, room where food is prepared and cooked

salotto

Living room, comfortable room for relaxing and socializing

credenza

Sideboard, a piece of furniture for storing items

era

Was, third person singular past tense of 'essere'

anche

Also, too; adverb indicating addition or inclusion

camera

Room, bedroom; enclosed space used for living or sleeping

Signora

Mrs., madam; respectful title for an adult woman

dove

Where, conjunction or adverb indicating place or location

dormiva

She slept, imperfect past tense of 'dormire'

piccolo

Small, little; adjective describing something of small size

cassone

Large chest or box used for storing belongings

topolino

Little mouse, small rodent; also a term of endearment

particolarmente

Particularly, especially; adverb emphasizing a specific quality

ordinato

Tidy, neat; adjective describing something well-arranged and clean

eccesso

Excess, extreme degree beyond what is normal or necessary

sempre

Always, ever; adverb indicating continuous or habitual action

spazzare

To sweep, clean floors by brushing away dust and dirt

spolverare

To dust, remove dust from surfaces with a cloth

morbidi

Soft, smooth; adjective describing a gentle and yielding texture

pavimenti

Floors, horizontal surfaces one walks on inside buildings

volte

Times, occasions; noun indicating frequency or repeated instances

scarafaggio

Cockroach, a common insect pest found in homes

perdeva

Got lost, wandered; imperfect past tense of 'perdersi'

Sciò

Shoo, exclamation used to chase away animals or people

sciò

Shoo, repeated exclamation to drive away unwanted creatures

piedini

Little feet, diminutive form of 'piedi' meaning feet

sporchi

Dirty, unclean; adjective describing something covered in filth

disse

Said, she/he said; past tense of 'dire'

facendo

Doing, making; gerund form of the verb 'fare'

tintinnare

To jingle, make a light ringing or clinking sound

paletta

Dustpan, small flat tool used to collect swept dirt

polvere

Dust, fine particles of dirt floating or settled on surfaces

Scacciare

To chase away, drive out or expel someone forcefully

coccinella

Ladybird, small red beetle with black spots

giorno

Day, a period of twenty-four hours

vecchietta

Little old woman, affectionate diminutive term for elderly female

corse

Ran, she ran; past tense of 'correre'

su

Up, above; preposition or adverb indicating upward direction

giù

Down, below; adverb indicating downward direction or position

mantello

Cloak, a long loose outer garment worn for warmth

rosso

Red, the color of blood or ripe tomatoes

pois

Polka dots, small round spots forming a decorative pattern

tua

Your (feminine singular possessive adjective, informal second person)

casa

House, home; a building where people live

è

Is, third person singular present tense of 'essere'

fiamme

Flames, hot glowing streams of burning gas and light

Mamma

Mother, mom; affectionate term for one's female parent

Coccinella

Ladybird, ladybug; small spotted beetle considered good luck

Vola

Fly, she flies; imperative or present tense of 'volare'

dai

From the (masculine plural) or come on, informal expression

tuoi

Your (masculine plural possessive adjective, informal second person)

bambini

Children, young boys and girls; plural of 'bambino'

altro

Another, other; adjective indicating a different or additional thing

grosso

Big, large, fat; adjective describing something of great size

ragno

Spider, eight-legged arthropod that spins webs

grasso

Fat, plump; adjective describing someone or something overweight

entrò

Entered, came in; past tense of 'entrare'

ripararsi

To take shelter, protect oneself from rain or danger

pioggia

Rain, water falling from clouds in drops

Chiedo

I ask, I request; first person present tense of 'chiedere'

scusa

Excuse, pardon; apology or request for forgiveness

questa

This (feminine singular demonstrative pronoun or adjective)

Signorina

Miss, young lady; respectful title for an unmarried woman

Vattene

Go away, get out; imperative reflexive form of 'andarsene'

brutto

Ugly, nasty; adjective describing something unpleasant in appearance

cattivo

Bad, wicked, naughty; adjective describing poor behavior or character

Lasciare

To leave, to let go; infinitive verb meaning to abandon

fili

Threads, thin strands of fiber or wire

ragnatela

Cobweb, spiderweb; silky structure built by spiders

tutta

All, entire (feminine singular); adjective indicating completeness

mia

My (feminine singular possessive adjective, first person)

bella

Beautiful, lovely (feminine singular adjective)

pulita

Clean, tidy (feminine singular adjective describing cleanliness)

Ragno

Spider, eight-legged creature known for spinning webs

Fuori

Outside, out; adverb or preposition indicating exterior location

finestra

Window, an opening in a wall letting in light

Cacciò

Chased out, expelled; past tense of 'cacciare'

fuori

Outside, out; adverb indicating location outside a place

calò

Lowered, descended; past tense of 'calarsi' meaning to lower oneself

lungo

Long, along; adjective or preposition describing length or path

sottile

Thin, slender, fine; adjective describing something of little width

filo

Thread, wire, string; thin strand used for various purposes

proseguì

Continued, went on; past tense of 'proseguire'

verso

Toward, towards; preposition indicating direction or movement

lontano

Far, distant; adjective or adverb indicating great distance

magazzino

Storeroom, warehouse; space used for keeping stored goods

prendere

To take, to get; infinitive verb meaning to grab or fetch

noccioli

Kernels, pits of fruit such as cherries or olives

ciliegia

Cherry, small round red fruit growing on trees

cardo

Thistle, a prickly wild plant with purple flowers

cena

Dinner, the main evening meal of the day

tutto

All, entire (masculine singular adjective indicating completeness)

corridoio

Corridor, hallway; a long passage connecting rooms in a building

annusò

Sniffed, smelled; past tense of 'annusare' meaning to sniff

guardò

Looked, watched; past tense of 'guardare'

pavimento

Floor, the flat surface one walks on inside a building

Sento

I smell, I hear, I feel; first person present of 'sentire'

odore

Smell, scent; a sensation perceived through the nose

miele

Honey, sweet golden substance produced by bees

vengono

They come, they come from; third person plural of 'venire'

forse

Perhaps, maybe; adverb expressing uncertainty or possibility

primule

Primroses, small wild flowers that bloom in early spring

selvatiche

Wild, untamed (feminine plural adjective describing undomesticated plants)