War and Peace — Page 4

English → It CHAPTER II Level 8/10

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.

Questo robusto giovane era un figlio illegittimo del conte Bezúkhov, un noto signorotto dell'epoca di Caterina che ora giaceva in fin di vita a Mosca.

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.

Il giovane non era ancora entrato né nel servizio militare né in quello civile, poiché era appena tornato dall'estero dove aveva ricevuto la sua istruzione, e questa era la sua prima apparizione in società.

Anna Pávlovna greeted him with the nod she accorded to the lowest hierarchy in her drawing room.

Anna Pávlovna lo salutò con il cenno del capo che riservava alla gerarchia più bassa nel suo salotto.

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.

Ma nonostante questo saluto di infimo grado, un'espressione di ansia e timore, come alla vista di qualcosa di troppo grande e inadatto al luogo, le attraversò il viso quando vide entrare 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.

Sebbene fosse certamente piuttosto più grande degli altri uomini presenti nella stanza, la sua ansia poteva riferirsi soltanto all'espressione intelligente sebbene timida, ma attenta e spontanea, che lo distingueva da tutti gli altri in quel salotto.

"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.

«È molto gentile da parte sua, Monsieur Pierre, venire a far visita a una povera malata,» disse Anna Pávlovna, scambiando uno sguardo allarmato con la zia mentre lo conduceva da lei.

Pierre murmured something unintelligible, and continued to look round as if in search of something.

Pierre mormorò qualcosa di incomprensibile, e continuò a guardarsi intorno come se fosse in cerca di qualcosa.

On his way to the aunt he bowed to the little princess with a pleased smile, as to an intimate acquaintance.

Mentre si dirigeva verso la zia, si inchinò alla piccola principessa con un sorriso soddisfatto, come a una conoscenza intima.

Anna Pávlovna's alarm was justified, for Pierre turned away from the aunt without waiting to hear her speech about Her Majesty's health.

L'allarme di Anna Pávlovna era giustificato, poiché Pierre si allontanò dalla zia senza aspettare di sentire il suo discorso sulla salute di Sua Maestà.

Vocabulary

Questo: KWES-toh — This; demonstrative pronoun or adjective indicating nearby object
robusto: roh-BOO-stoh — Robust, sturdy, physically strong and well-built
giovane: JOH-vah-neh — Young; a young person, youth
era: EH-rah — Was; third-person singular imperfect of essere
un: oon — A, an; masculine indefinite article
figlio: FEEL-yoh — Son; male offspring of a parent
illegittimo: eel-leh-JIT-tee-moh — Illegitimate; born outside of legal marriage
del: del — Of the; masculine singular contraction of di + il
conte: KON-teh — Count; a European nobleman of middle rank
noto: NOH-toh — Known, well-known, famous, notable
signorotto: seen-yoh-ROT-toh — Minor lord; a petty nobleman of local importance
dell': del — Of the; contraction of di + l' before vowel
epoca: EH-poh-kah — Era, epoch, period of historical time
di: dee — Of, from; common Italian preposition
che: keh — That, who, which; conjunction or relative pronoun
ora: OH-rah — Now; at this moment in time
giaceva: jah-CHEH-vah — Was lying (down); imperfect of giacere
in: een — In, at; basic Italian preposition of location
fin: feen — Until, at the point of; used in fin di vita
vita: VEE-tah — Life; existence; in fin di vita means dying
a: ah — At, to; basic Italian preposition
Mosca: MOH-skah — Moscow; the capital city of Russia
Il: eel — The; masculine singular definite article
non: non — Not; standard Italian negation word
ancora: ahn-KOH-rah — Yet, still, again; temporal adverb
entrato: en-TRAH-toh — Entered; past participle of entrare
né: neh — Neither, nor; used in negative constructions
nel: nel — In the; masculine singular contraction of in + il
servizio: ser-VEET-syoh — Service; duty, employment, public or military service
militare: mee-lee-TAH-reh — Military; relating to armed forces or soldiers
quello: KWEL-loh — That; demonstrative pronoun or adjective for distant object
civile: chee-VEE-leh — Civil; relating to civilian, non-military affairs
poiché: poy-KEH — Since, because; causal conjunction explaining reason
appena: ahp-PEH-nah — Just, barely, hardly; recently or scarcely
tornato: tor-NAH-toh — Returned; past participle of tornare
dall': dahl — From the; contraction of da + l' before vowel
estero: ES-teh-roh — Foreign country; abroad, outside one's own country
dove: DOH-veh — Where; relative or interrogative adverb of place
aveva: ah-VEH-vah — Had; third-person singular imperfect of avere
ricevuto: ree-cheh-VOO-toh — Received; past participle of ricevere
la: lah — The; feminine singular definite article
sua: SOO-ah — His, her, its; feminine possessive adjective
istruzione: ee-stroo-TSYOH-neh — Education, instruction; formal learning and training
e: eh — And; basic Italian coordinating conjunction
questa: KWES-tah — This; feminine demonstrative pronoun or adjective
prima: PREE-mah — First; ordinal adjective or adverb of time
apparizione: ahp-pah-ree-TSYOH-neh — Appearance, apparition; the act of appearing somewhere
società: soh-cheh-TAH — Society; social group or high social circles
lo: loh — Him, it; masculine singular direct object pronoun
salutò: sah-loo-TOH — Greeted; third-person singular passato remoto of salutare
con: kon — With; Italian preposition indicating accompaniment
il: eel — The; masculine singular definite article
cenno: CHEN-noh — Nod, gesture, sign; a small acknowledgment movement
capo: KAH-poh — Head; also chief or boss; cenno del capo means nod
riservava: ree-zer-VAH-vah — Reserved, kept; imperfect of riservare
alla: AHL-lah — To the; feminine singular contraction of a + la
gerarchia: jeh-rar-KEE-ah — Hierarchy; system of ranked levels or social order
più: pyoo — More, most; comparative adverb of quantity or degree
bassa: BAHS-sah — Low; feminine adjective indicating inferior rank or position
suo: SOO-oh — His, her; masculine singular possessive adjective
salotto: sah-LOT-toh — Drawing room, salon; elegant reception room in a home
Ma: mah — But; basic Italian adversative conjunction
nonostante: non-oh-STAN-teh — Despite, notwithstanding; preposition conceding a contrast
questo: KWES-toh — This; masculine demonstrative pronoun or adjective
saluto: sah-LOO-toh — Greeting, salute; an acknowledgment upon meeting someone
infimo: EEN-fee-moh — Lowest, bottom; of the very lowest rank or degree
grado: GRAH-doh — Grade, rank, degree; level in a hierarchy
un': oon — A, an; feminine indefinite article before vowel
espressione: es-pres-SYOH-neh — Expression; a look on someone's face conveying feeling
ansia: AHN-syah — Anxiety, worry, apprehension; a feeling of unease
timore: tee-MOH-reh — Fear, dread; a sense of apprehension or alarm
come: KOH-meh — Like, as, how; conjunction or adverb of comparison
vista: VEE-stah — Sight, view; the act of seeing or catching sight
qualcosa: kwahl-KOH-zah — Something; an unspecified thing or matter
troppo: TROP-poh — Too, too much; adverb indicating excess
grande: GRAHN-deh — Big, large, great; adjective of size or importance
inadatto: ee-nah-DAHT-toh — Unsuitable, unfit; not appropriate for a situation
al: ahl — To the; masculine singular contraction of a + il
luogo: LWOH-goh — Place, location; a specific site or setting
le: leh — To her; feminine indirect object pronoun; also the (plural)
attraversò: aht-trah-ver-SOH — Crossed, passed across; passato remoto of attraversare
viso: VEE-zoh — Face; the front part of a person's head
quando: KWAHN-doh — When; temporal conjunction or interrogative adverb
vide: VEE-deh — Saw; third-person singular passato remoto of vedere
entrare: en-TRAH-reh — To enter; infinitive verb meaning to go or come in
Sebbene: seb-BEH-neh — Although, even though; concessive conjunction
fosse: FOS-seh — Were, was; imperfect subjunctive of essere
certamente: cher-tah-MEN-teh — Certainly, surely; adverb expressing confidence
piuttosto: pyoot-TOH-stoh — Rather, quite, somewhat; adverb of degree or preference
degli: DEL-yee — Of the; masculine plural contraction of di + gli
altri: AHL-tree — Others; other people present in a group
uomini: WOH-mee-nee — Men; plural of uomo, adult male human beings
presenti: preh-ZEN-tee — Present; those in attendance at a place
nella: NEL-lah — In the; feminine singular contraction of in + la
stanza: STAHN-tsah — Room; an enclosed space inside a building
poteva: poh-TEH-vah — Could, was able to; imperfect of potere
riferirsi: ree-feh-REER-see — To refer to oneself; reflexive infinitive of riferire
soltanto: sol-TAHN-toh — Only, just, solely; restrictive adverb
all': ahl — To the; contraction of a + l' before vowel
intelligente: een-tel-lee-JEN-teh — Intelligent, smart; having good mental capacity
sebbene: seb-BEH-neh — Although, even though; concessive conjunction
timida: TEE-mee-dah — Shy, timid; lacking confidence in social situations
attenta: aht-TEN-tah — Attentive, careful; paying close attention
spontanea: spon-TAH-neh-ah — Spontaneous, natural; acting freely without constraint
distingueva: dee-stween-GWEH-vah — Distinguished; imperfect of distinguere, to set apart
da: dah — From, by; preposition of origin or agency
tutti: TOOT-tee — All, everyone; masculine plural of tutto
gli: lyee — The; masculine plural definite article; also to him
quel: kwel — That; masculine singular demonstrative adjective
È: eh — Is; third-person singular present of essere
molto: MOL-toh — Very, much; adverb or adjective of quantity
gentile: jen-TEE-leh — Kind, gentle, courteous; polite and considerate
parte: PAR-teh — Part, side; also on behalf of, on the part of
venire: veh-NEE-reh — To come; infinitive of the verb of motion
far: far — To do, to make; short form of fare before infinitive
visita: VEE-zee-tah — Visit; a trip to see someone, especially when ill
una: OO-nah — A, an; feminine singular indefinite article
povera: POH-veh-rah — Poor; lacking wealth or evoking sympathy
malata: mah-LAH-tah — Sick, ill; a woman who is unwell or diseased
disse: DEES-seh — Said; third-person singular passato remoto of dire
scambiando: skahm-BYAHN-doh — Exchanging; gerund of scambiare, to swap or exchange
uno: OO-noh — A, one; masculine indefinite article or number
sguardo: ZGWAR-doh — Look, glance, gaze; a directed look from the eyes
allarmato: ahl-lar-MAH-toh — Alarmed, worried; showing signs of concern or fear
zia: TSEE-ah — Aunt; the sister of one's parent
mentre: MEN-treh — While, whereas; temporal or contrastive conjunction
conduceva: kon-doo-CHEH-vah — Was leading; imperfect of condurre, to lead or guide
lei: lay — Her, she; third-person feminine pronoun
mormorò: mor-moh-ROH — Murmured; passato remoto of mormorare, to speak softly
incomprensibile: een-kom-pren-SEE-bee-leh — Incomprehensible, unintelligible; impossible to understand
continuò: kon-tee-NWOH — Continued; passato remoto of continuare
guardarsi: gwar-DAR-see — To look around oneself; reflexive infinitive of guardare
intorno: een-TOR-noh — Around, about; adverb of surrounding space
se: seh — If, as if; conditional conjunction or reflexive pronoun
cerca: CHER-kah — Search; in cerca di means in search of something
Mentre: MEN-treh — While; temporal conjunction indicating simultaneous actions
si: see — Himself, herself, oneself; reflexive pronoun
dirigeva: dee-ree-JEH-vah — Was heading toward; imperfect of dirigersi
verso: VER-soh — Toward, towards; preposition indicating direction
inchinò: een-kee-NOH — Bowed; passato remoto of inchinarsi, to bow
piccola: PEEK-koh-lah — Small, little; feminine adjective of small size
principessa: preen-chee-PES-sah — Princess; a female member of royalty or nobility
sorriso: sor-REE-zoh — Smile; a facial expression of happiness or greeting
soddisfatto: sod-dee-SFAHT-toh — Satisfied, pleased; feeling contentment or approval
conoscenza: koh-noh-SHEN-tsah — Acquaintance, knowledge; familiarity with a person
intima: EEN-tee-mah — Intimate, close; deeply personal or familiar relationship
L': lah / loh — The; elided definite article before a vowel
allarme: ahl-LAR-meh — Alarm, alert; a feeling of sudden fear or warning
giustificato: joo-stee-fee-KAH-toh — Justified, warranted; having a valid reason or cause
allontanò: ahl-lon-tah-NOH — Moved away, distanced; passato remoto of allontanare
dalla: DAHL-lah — From the; feminine singular contraction of da + la
senza: SEN-tsah — Without; preposition indicating absence or lack
aspettare: ahs-pet-TAH-reh — To wait, to expect; infinitive of aspettare
sentire: sen-TEE-reh — To hear, to feel; infinitive of a key sensory verb
discorso: dee-SKOR-soh — Speech, discourse; a spoken address or conversation
sulla: SOOL-lah — On the; feminine singular contraction of su + la
salute: sah-LOO-teh — Health; the general condition of someone's body
Sua: SOO-ah — His, Her; formal possessive, as in Sua Maestà
Maestà: mah-es-TAH — Majesty; honorific title for a sovereign ruler

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