The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse — Page 5

Vocabulary

lo

Him/it, third-person singular masculine object pronoun

seguì

Followed, third-person singular past tense of seguire

con

With, preposition indicating accompaniment or means

uno

A/one, indefinite article or number for masculine nouns

strofinaccio

Cloth or rag used for wiping or cleaning surfaces

per

For/to, preposition indicating purpose or direction

asciugare

To dry, to wipe something until no longer wet

le

The, definite article for feminine plural nouns

sue

Her/his, feminine plural possessive adjective

grandi

Large or big, plural adjective describing size

impronte

Footprints or marks left on a surface

bagnate

Wet, feminine plural adjective describing dampness

dal

From the, contraction of preposition da and article il

pavimento

Floor, the flat surface you walk on indoors

del

Of the, contraction of preposition di and article il

salotto

Living room or parlor, a room for receiving guests

Quando

When, conjunction introducing a time clause

si

Reflexive pronoun used with reflexive verbs

fu

Was, third-person singular past tense of essere

convinto

Convinced or certain, past participle of convincere

che

That/which, conjunction or relative pronoun

non

Not, negation adverb used before verbs

c'era

There was, contracted form of ci era

miele

Honey, sweet substance produced by bees

negli

In the, contraction of in and gli for plural nouns

armadi

Cupboards or wardrobes, plural of armadio

cominciò

Began, third-person singular past tense of cominciare

a

To/at, preposition indicating direction or location

camminare

To walk, to move on foot at a steady pace

lungo

Along/long, preposition or adjective indicating length

il

The, definite article for masculine singular nouns

corridoio

Corridor or hallway, a narrow passage between rooms

Davvero

Really or truly, adverb expressing emphasis or surprise

rimarrà

Will remain/stay, third-person singular future of rimanere

bloccato

Stuck or blocked, past participle of bloccare

signor

Mr., courtesy title used before a man's name

signora

Mrs./madam, courtesy title for a woman

Prima

First or before, adverb indicating temporal order

infilò

Slipped or inserted into, past tense of infilare

nella

In the, contraction of in and la for feminine nouns

dispensa

Pantry or larder, room for storing food supplies

niente

Nothing, pronoun indicating absence of anything

C'erano

There were, contracted past form of ci erano

tre

Three, the cardinal number between two and four

esserini

Tiny creatures, diminutive plural of essere

striscianti

Crawling or creeping, present participle of strisciare

nascosti

Hidden, masculine plural past participle of nascondere

nel

In the, contraction of in and il for masculine nouns

portapiatti

Dish rack, a holder or stand for storing plates

Due

Two, the cardinal number between one and three

di

Of/from, preposition indicating possession or origin

loro

They/them/their, third-person plural pronoun

riuscirono

They managed/succeeded, past tense of riuscire

scappare

To escape or run away, to flee from a place

ma

But, conjunction indicating contrast or opposition

più

More/most, adverb of comparison or superlative degree

piccolo

Small or little, adjective describing a small size

acchiappò

Caught or grabbed, past tense of acchiappare

Poi

Then/afterward, adverb indicating sequence in time

delle

Some/of the, contraction of di and le

provviste

Supplies or provisions, stored food and goods

La

The, definite article for feminine singular nouns

signorina

Miss, courtesy title for an unmarried young woman

Farfalla

Butterfly, a winged insect; here used as character name

stava

Was, third-person singular imperfect of stare

assaggiando

Tasting or sampling, gerund of assaggiare

zucchero

Sugar, sweet crystalline substance used in cooking

volò

Flew, third-person singular past tense of volare

via

Away, adverb indicating movement from a place

dalla

From the, contraction of da and la for feminine nouns

finestra

Window, an opening in a wall that lets in light

sembra

It seems, third-person singular present of sembrare

lei

She/her, third-person singular feminine subject pronoun

abbia

Has, third-person singular present subjunctive of avere

un

A/an, indefinite article for masculine singular nouns

bel

Nice/good, shortened masculine form of bello

po'

A bit/little, shortened form of poco indicating quantity

visitatori

Visitors, people who come to see someone or somewhere

E

And, conjunction connecting two words or clauses

senza

Without, preposition indicating absence of something

alcun

Any, indefinite adjective used in negative contexts

invito

Invitation, a request to attend or participate

disse

Said, third-person singular past tense of dire

Percorsero

They traveled through, past tense of percorrere

sabbioso

Sandy, adjective describing a surface covered in sand

Incontrò

Met or encountered, past tense of incontrare

dietro

Behind or after, preposition indicating position

angolo

Corner or angle, a point where two surfaces meet

afferrò

Grabbed or seized, past tense of afferrare

scatto

Snap or sudden movement, quick grabbing action

e

And, conjunction joining two elements together

poi

Then, adverb indicating what happened next in sequence

rimise

Put back, third-person singular past tense of rimettere

giù

Down, adverb indicating downward direction or placement

Non

Not, negation adverb placed before a verb

mi

Me/to me, first-person singular object pronoun

piacciono

I like them, third-person plural present of piacere

i

The, definite article for masculine plural nouns

bombi

Bumblebees, large fuzzy buzzing bees

Sono

They are/I am, present tense of essere

tutti

All/everyone, pronoun or adjective indicating totality

ricoperti

Covered, masculine plural past participle of ricoprire

setole

Bristles, stiff hairs or fibers on an animal or object

asciugandosi

Wiping oneself, reflexive gerund of asciugarsi

bocca

Mouth, the facial opening used for eating and speaking

manica

Sleeve, the part of a garment covering the arm

della

Of the, contraction of di and la for feminine nouns

giacca

Jacket, a short coat worn as an outer garment

Vattene

Go away, imperative reflexive form of andarsene

vecchio

Old, adjective describing advanced age in a person

rospo

Toad, a warty amphibian resembling a frog

schifoso

Disgusting or revolting, adjective expressing strong disgust

strillò

Screamed or shrieked, past tense of strillare

Diventerò

I will become, first-person singular future of diventare

pazza

Crazy or mad, feminine adjective describing mental state

rimproverò

Scolded or reproached, past tense of rimproverare

Si

Reflexive pronoun used with reflexive or impersonal verbs

chiuse

Closed, third-person singular past tense of chiudere

cantina

Cellar or pantry, a storage room below or in a house

noci

Nuts or walnuts, plural of noce

mentre

While, conjunction indicating two simultaneous actions

estraeva

Was extracting or pulling out, imperfect of estrarre

nido

Nest, a structure made by animals to lay eggs or live

api

Bees, plural of ape, stinging insects that make honey

Sembrava

Seemed, third-person singular imperfect of sembrare

avere

To have, infinitive of the auxiliary verb avere

alcuna

Any, feminine indefinite adjective in negative contexts

obiezione

Objection, a statement expressing opposition or disagreement

alle

To the, contraction of a and le for feminine plural nouns

punture

Stings or bites, wounds caused by insects or needles