Wuthering Heights — Page 1

Vocabulary

pomeriggio

The afternoon, the period after midday

ieri

Yesterday, the day before today

era

Third person singular past tense of 'essere' (to be)

fatto

Past participle of 'fare'; made or become

nebbioso

Foggy, misty, covered in thick fog

freddo

Cold, having a low temperature

Avevo

First person singular imperfect of 'avere'; I had

quasi

Almost, nearly, not quite fully

voglia

Desire, urge, or inclination to do something

trascorrerlo

To spend it, referring to passing time somewhere

accanto

Next to, beside, close to something

fuoco

Fire, flames, a source of heat and light

studio

A study or private workspace for reading and writing

invece

Instead, on the contrary, rather than

guadare

To wade through, cross on foot through water or mud

brughiere

Moors, wild open heathland landscapes

fango

Mud, soft wet earth or clay

fino

Until, up to, as far as

Salendo

Going up, climbing, ascending

dopo

After, following in time or order

cena

Dinner, the evening meal

tuttavia

Nevertheless, however, yet, despite that

prendo

First person singular present of 'prendere'; I take

pasti

Meals, occasions when food is eaten

tra

Between, among, within a range

mezzogiorno

Noon, midday, twelve o'clock in the afternoon

governante

Housekeeper, a woman who manages a household

signora

A woman, lady, or polite title Mrs or madam

aspetto

Appearance, look, or aspect of a person or thing

matronale

Matronly, resembling a dignified older woman

accettata

Accepted, received as part of something established

accessorio

Accessory, a supplementary or fixed addition

fisso

Fixed, permanent, stationary, set in place

insieme

Together, along with, jointly

casa

House, home, a place where one lives

poteva

Third person singular imperfect of 'potere'; could

voleva

Third person singular imperfect of 'volere'; wanted

capire

To understand, to comprehend something

richiesta

A request, a demand or formal appeal

essere

To be; the fundamental Italian infinitive verb

servito

Served, attended to, provided with a service

cinque

The number five

mentre

While, whilst, during the time that

salivo

First person singular imperfect of 'salire'; I climbed

scale

Stairs, staircase, steps inside a building

pigra

Lazy, sluggish, without energy or motivation

intenzione

Intention, plan, or purpose in mind

entravo

First person singular imperfect of 'entrare'; I entered

stanza

Room, an enclosed space within a building

vidi

First person singular past of 'vedere'; I saw

domestica

A female domestic servant or housemaid

ginocchio

Knee, the joint between the thigh and lower leg

circondata

Surrounded, encircled by objects or people

spazzole

Brushes, tools with bristles used for cleaning

secchielli

Small buckets, little pails used for carrying substances

carbone

Coal, a black mineral fuel burned for heat

sollevava

Was raising or lifting up, causing to rise

polvere

Dust, fine dry particles floating in the air

infernale

Infernal, hellish, extremely unpleasant or intense

spegneva

Was extinguishing, putting out flames or fire

fiamme

Flames, the visible burning tongues of fire

mucchi

Piles, heaps, large amounts gathered together

cenere

Ash, the residue left after something has burned

spettacolo

Spectacle, a scene or sight that draws attention

fece

Third person singular past of 'fare'; made or caused

tornare

To return, to go back to a previous place

indietro

Back, backwards, in the opposite direction

immediatamente

Immediately, at once, without any delay

presi

First person singular past of 'prendere'; I took

cappello

Hat, a head covering worn outdoors

passeggiata

A walk, stroll, leisurely outdoor excursion

quattro

The number four

miglia

Miles, units of distance measurement

arrivai

First person singular past of 'arrivare'; I arrived

cancello

Gate, an entrance barrier that opens and closes

giardino

Garden, an outdoor area with plants or lawn

appena

Just barely, hardly, or just in time

tempo

Time, or weather conditions outdoors

sfuggire

To escape, to avoid or elude something

primi

First, earliest, initial ones in a sequence

leggeri

Light, not heavy; gentle or mild in force

fiocchi

Flakes, light fluffy pieces such as snowflakes

nevicata

Snowfall, an instance or period of snowing

squallida

Squalid, bleak, dreary, and depressingly bare

cima

Top, summit, peak of a hill or mountain

collinare

Relating to hills, hilly in character or location

terra

Earth, ground, land, soil beneath one's feet

indurita

Hardened, made rigid or stiff by cold or force

gelo

Frost, freeze, intense biting cold

nero

Black, dark, the darkest color

aria

Air, the atmosphere; also manner or appearance

faceva

Third person singular imperfect of 'fare'; was making

rabbrividire

To shiver, to tremble from cold or fear

ogni

Every, each, referring to all members of a group

membro

Member, limb, or part of a body or group

riuscendo

Gerund of 'riuscire'; managing to, being able to

rimuovere

To remove, to take away or detach something

catena

Chain, a linked series of metal rings or fastenings

saltai

First person singular past of 'saltare'; I jumped

parte

Part, side, portion, or direction

correndo

Running, moving quickly on foot

lastricato

Paved, covered with stone or cobblestones

fiancheggiato

Flanked, lined on the sides by something

cespugli

Bushes, shrubs, low dense woody plants

uva

Grape, the fruit of the vine

spina

Thorn; 'uva spina' means gooseberry

sparsi

Scattered, spread out randomly here and there

qua

Here, in this place

là

There, in that place

bussai

First person singular past of 'bussare'; I knocked

invano

In vain, without success or result

ammesso

Admitted, allowed in, granted entry

finché

Until, up to the point when something happens

nocche

Knuckles, the joints of the fingers on a hand

bruciarono

Third person plural past of 'bruciare'; they burned

cani

Dogs, domesticated canine animals

ulularono

Third person plural past of 'ululare'; they howled

Miserabili

Miserable wretches, pitiable or contemptible people

inquilini

Tenants, people who rent and occupy a property

esclamai

First person singular past of 'esclamare'; I exclaimed

mentalmente

Mentally, in one's mind, inwardly without speaking

meritate

You deserve, merit, are worthy of something

isolamento

Isolation, the state of being separated from others

perpetuo

Perpetual, endless, lasting forever without interruption

specie

Species, kind, sort, type of creature or person

sgarbata

Rude, impolite, lacking in manners or courtesy

inospitalità

Inhospitality, the quality of being unwelcoming to guests

Almeno

At least, at the minimum, if nothing else

terrei

First person singular conditional of 'tenere'; I would keep

porte

Doors, the panels that close off entrances

sprangate

Barred, bolted shut with a heavy locking bar

giorno

Day, a period of twenty-four hours

importa

It matters, it is important, it concerns someone

entrerò

First person singular future of 'entrare'; I will enter

Così

So, thus, in this way, therefore

deciso

Decided, determined, having made up one's mind

afferrai

First person singular past of 'afferrare'; I grabbed

chiavistello

A latch or bolt used to fasten a door or gate

scossi

First person singular past of 'scuotere'; I shook

veemenza

Vehemence, great force, intensity, or passion