War and Peace — Page 4
This stout young man was an illegitimate son of Count Bezúkhov, a well-known grandee of Catherine's time who now lay dying in Moscow.
Este robusto joven era hijo ilegítimo del conde Bezújov, un conocido magnate de la época de Catalina que ahora yacía moribundo en Moscú.
The young man had not yet entered either the military or civil service, as he had only just returned from abroad where he had been educated, and this was his first appearance in society.
El joven no había ingresado aún ni al servicio militar ni al civil, pues acababa de regresar del extranjero donde había sido educado, y esta era su primera aparición en sociedad.
Anna Pávlovna greeted him with the nod she accorded to the lowest hierarchy in her drawing room.
Anna Pávlovna lo saludó con el gesto de cabeza que reservaba para la jerarquía más baja de su salón.
But in spite of this lowest-grade greeting, a look of anxiety and fear, as at the sight of something too large and unsuited to the place, came over her face when she saw Pierre enter.
Pero a pesar de este saludo de ínfima categoría, una expresión de inquietud y temor, como ante la visión de algo demasiado grande e inadecuado para el lugar, cruzó su rostro cuando vio entrar a Pierre.
Though he was certainly rather bigger than the other men in the room, her anxiety could only have reference to the clever though shy, but observant and natural, expression which distinguished him from everyone else in that drawing room.
Aunque ciertamente era bastante más grande que los otros hombres de la habitación, su inquietud solo podía deberse a la expresión inteligente aunque tímida, pero perspicaz y natural, que lo distinguía de todos los demás en aquel salón.
"It is very good of you, Monsieur Pierre, to come and visit a poor invalid," said Anna Pávlovna, exchanging an alarmed glance with her aunt as she conducted him to her.
«Es muy amable de su parte, monsieur Pierre, venir a visitar a una pobre enferma», dijo Anna Pávlovna, intercambiando una mirada alarmada con su tía mientras lo conducía hacia ella.
Pierre murmured something unintelligible, and continued to look round as if in search of something.
Pierre murmuró algo ininteligible y continuó mirando a su alrededor como en busca de algo.
On his way to the aunt he bowed to the little princess with a pleased smile, as to an intimate acquaintance.
De camino hacia la tía, saludó con una reverencia a la princesita con una sonrisa complacida, como a una conocida íntima.
Anna Pávlovna's alarm was justified, for Pierre turned away from the aunt without waiting to hear her speech about Her Majesty's health.
La alarma de Anna Pávlovna estaba justificada, pues Pierre se alejó de la tía sin esperar a escuchar su discurso sobre la salud de Su Majestad.
Vocabulary
- Este
- Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this'
- robusto
- Strong and sturdy in build or constitution
- joven
- Young person or adjective meaning young
- era
- Past tense of 'ser'; he/she/it was
- hijo
- Son; male child of a parent
- ilegítimo
- Born outside of marriage; illegitimate
- del
- Contraction of 'de' and 'el'; of the
- conde
- A nobleman holding the title of count
- un
- Indefinite article; a or an
- conocido
- Well-known; recognized by many people
- magnate
- Powerful and wealthy influential person in society
- de
- Preposition meaning of, from, or about
- la
- Definite article feminine singular; the
- época
- A historical period or era in time
- que
- Relative pronoun or conjunction meaning that or who
- ahora
- Adverb meaning now or at this moment
- yacía
- Imperfect of 'yacer'; he/she lay prostrate
- moribundo
- Dying; on the verge of death
- en
- Preposition meaning in, on, or at
- El
- Definite article masculine singular; the
- no
- Negation adverb meaning no or not
- había
- Auxiliary imperfect of 'haber'; had
- ingresado
- Past participle of 'ingresar'; entered or joined
- aún
- Adverb meaning still or yet
- ni
- Conjunction meaning neither or not even
- al
- Contraction of 'a' and 'el'; to the
- servicio
- Service; duty performed for an institution
- militar
- Relating to the army or armed forces
- civil
- Relating to civilian government or public service
- pues
- Conjunction meaning since, because, or well then
- acababa
- Imperfect of 'acabar'; had just finished or returned
- regresar
- To return or come back to a place
- extranjero
- Foreign country or foreigner; abroad
- donde
- Relative adverb meaning where
- sido
- Past participle of 'ser'; been
- educado
- Educated; having received formal schooling
- y
- Conjunction meaning and
- esta
- Demonstrative adjective or pronoun; this (feminine)
- su
- Possessive adjective meaning his, her, or their
- primera
- First; feminine ordinal adjective
- aparición
- Appearance; the act of showing up somewhere
- sociedad
- Society; the social world or high society
- lo
- Direct object pronoun meaning him or it
- saludó
- Preterite of 'saludar'; greeted someone formally
- con
- Preposition meaning with
- el
- Definite article masculine singular; the
- gesto
- A gesture or facial expression conveying meaning
- cabeza
- Head; the upper part of the body
- reservaba
- Imperfect of 'reservar'; used to reserve or set aside
- para
- Preposition meaning for or in order to
- jerarquía
- Hierarchy; ranked order of social or official status
- más
- Adverb or adjective meaning more or most
- baja
- Low; of inferior rank or social standing
- salón
- Drawing room; elegant room for social gatherings
- Pero
- Conjunction meaning but or however
- a
- Preposition meaning to, at, or toward
- pesar
- Used in phrase 'a pesar de'; despite or in spite of
- este
- Demonstrative adjective; this (masculine)
- saludo
- Greeting; a gesture or word of acknowledgment
- ínfima
- Lowest or most inferior in rank or quality
- categoría
- Category or rank in a social hierarchy
- una
- Indefinite article feminine; a or an
- expresión
- Expression; a look conveying emotion on the face
- inquietud
- Unease or restlessness; a feeling of worry
- temor
- Fear or apprehension about something uncertain
- como
- Conjunction or adverb meaning like, as, or how
- ante
- Preposition meaning before or in the presence of
- visión
- Vision; something seen or a striking sight
- algo
- Indefinite pronoun meaning something or somewhat
- demasiado
- Too much; excessively beyond what is appropriate
- grande
- Large, great, or impressive in size or nature
- e
- Variant of 'y' (and) used before words starting with i
- inadecuado
- Inappropriate or unsuitable for a given situation
- lugar
- Place or location; a particular spot or setting
- cruzó
- Preterite of 'cruzar'; crossed or passed across
- rostro
- Face; the front of the head with features
- cuando
- Conjunction or adverb meaning when
- vio
- Preterite of 'ver'; saw or noticed something
- entrar
- To enter or go into a place
- Aunque
- Conjunction meaning although or even though
- ciertamente
- Certainly; adverb expressing affirmation or truth
- bastante
- Quite or rather; sufficiently or considerably
- los
- Definite article masculine plural; the
- otros
- Others; remaining people or things in a group
- hombres
- Men; adult male human beings
- habitación
- Room; an enclosed space within a building
- solo
- Only or alone; exclusively or by oneself
- podía
- Imperfect of 'poder'; was able to or could
- deberse
- To be due to or attributed to something
- inteligente
- Intelligent; having high mental ability or cleverness
- aunque
- Conjunction meaning although or even if
- tímida
- Shy or timid; lacking confidence in social situations
- perspicaz
- Perceptive; having sharp insight and keen understanding
- natural
- Natural; innate quality not artificially acquired
- distinguía
- Imperfect of 'distinguir'; set apart or distinguished
- todos
- All or everyone; every person or thing
- demás
- The rest or the others in a group
- aquel
- Demonstrative pronoun or adjective; that (distant)
- Es
- Present tense of 'ser'; is
- muy
- Adverb meaning very or extremely
- amable
- Kind or friendly; pleasant in manner toward others
- parte
- Part or side; also used in 'de parte de' (on behalf of)
- venir
- To come; to move toward the speaker
- visitar
- To visit; to go see someone at a place
- pobre
- Poor; evoking pity or lacking resources
- enferma
- Sick or ill; a person suffering from illness
- dijo
- Preterite of 'decir'; said or stated something
- intercambiando
- Exchanging; sharing looks or words mutually
- mirada
- A look or glance; a directed gaze
- alarmada
- Alarmed; feeling sudden fear or concern
- tía
- Aunt; the sister of one's parent
- mientras
- Conjunction meaning while or as something happens
- conducía
- Imperfect of 'conducir'; was leading or guiding someone
- hacia
- Preposition meaning toward or in the direction of
- ella
- Personal pronoun meaning she or her
- murmuró
- Preterite of 'murmurar'; murmured or spoke softly
- ininteligible
- Unintelligible; impossible to understand or comprehend
- continuó
- Preterite of 'continuar'; continued doing something
- mirando
- Gerund of 'mirar'; looking around or watching
- alrededor
- Around; in the surrounding area or vicinity
- busca
- Search; the act of looking for something
- De
- Preposition meaning of, from, or about
- camino
- Path or way; route taken to a destination
- reverencia
- A bow or curtsy showing deep respect
- princesita
- Little princess; affectionate diminutive of princess
- sonrisa
- A smile; a pleasant facial expression of happiness
- complacida
- Pleased or satisfied; feeling contentment or approval
- conocida
- Known or acquainted; a person one recognizes socially
- íntima
- Intimate or close; deeply familiar and personal
- La
- Definite article feminine singular; the
- alarma
- Alarm; a feeling of sudden fear or warning
- estaba
- Imperfect of 'estar'; was (in a state or place)
- justificada
- Justified; proven to be warranted or reasonable
- se
- Reflexive pronoun used with reflexive or passive verbs
- alejó
- Preterite of 'alejarse'; moved away from a place
- sin
- Preposition meaning without
- esperar
- To wait or to hope; to expect something
- escuchar
- To listen; to pay attention to a sound
- discurso
- Speech or discourse; a formal verbal presentation
- sobre
- Preposition meaning about, on, or over
- salud
- Health; the general condition of the body
- Su
- Possessive adjective meaning his, her, your, or their
- Majestad
- Majesty; royal title used to address a monarch
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