Wuthering Heights — Page 4

English → It CHAPTER II Level 8/10

She was slender, and apparently scarcely past girlhood: an admirable form, and the most exquisite little face that I have ever had the pleasure of beholding; small features, very fair; flaxen ringlets, or rather golden, hanging loose on her delicate neck; and eyes, had they been agreeable in expression, that would have been irresistible: fortunately for my susceptible heart, the only sentiment they evinced hovered between scorn and a kind of desperation, singularly unnatural to be detected there.

Era snella, e apparentemente appena uscita dall'adolescenza: una forma ammirevole, e il più squisito visino che io abbia mai avuto il piacere di contemplare; lineamenti delicati, carnagione chiarissima; riccioli color lino, o piuttosto dorati, che ricadevano sciolti sul suo collo delicato; e occhi che, se fossero stati gradevoli nell'espressione, sarebbero stati irresistibili: per fortuna del mio cuore sensibile, l'unico sentimento che manifestavano oscillava tra il disprezzo e una sorta di disperazione, singolarmente innaturale in quel viso.

The canisters were almost out of her reach; I made a motion to aid her; she turned upon me as a miser might turn if any one attempted to assist him in counting his gold.

I barattoli erano quasi fuori dalla sua portata; feci un gesto per aiutarla; si voltò verso di me come potrebbe fare un avaro se qualcuno tentasse di assisterlo nel contare il suo oro.

"I don't want your help," she snapped; "I can get them for myself."

«Non ho bisogno del suo aiuto,» scattò; «posso prenderli da sola.»

"I beg your pardon!" I hastened to reply.

«Chiedo scusa!» mi affrettai a rispondere.

"Were you asked to tea?" she demanded, tying an apron over her neat black frock, and standing with a spoonful of the leaf poised over the pot.

«È stato invitato al tè?» domandò, allacciandosi un grembiule sopra il suo ordinato abito nero, e restando in piedi con un cucchiaio di foglie sospeso sopra la teiera.

"I shall be glad to have a cup," I answered.

«Sarò lieto di prendere una tazza,» risposi.

"Were you asked?" she repeated.

«È stato invitato?» ripeté.

"No," I said, half smiling. "You are the proper person to ask me."

«No,» dissi, con un mezzo sorriso. «Lei è la persona adatta a invitarmi.»

She flung the tea back, spoon and all, and resumed her chair in a pet; her forehead corrugated, and her red under-lip pushed out, like a child's ready to cry.

Gettò indietro il tè, cucchiaio e tutto, e riprese il suo posto sulla sedia in preda al malumore; la fronte corrugata e il labbro inferiore rosso sporgente in fuori, come quello di un bambino sul punto di piangere.

Vocabulary

Era: Third person singular past tense of 'essere' (to be).
snella: Slim, slender; describing a lean body shape.
e: Conjunction meaning 'and,' connecting words or clauses.
apparentemente: Apparently, seemingly; used to express outward appearance.
appena: Just, barely, or as soon as; indicating recency or limit.
uscita: Exit or having come out; past participle of 'uscire.'
dall': Contraction of 'da' and 'l',' meaning 'from the.'
adolescenza: Adolescence; the period of teenage development and growth.
una: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (feminine).
forma: Form, shape; the physical outline or figure of something.
ammirevole: Admirable; worthy of admiration and positive regard.
il: Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular).
più: More, most; used to form comparatives and superlatives.
squisito: Exquisite, delicate; of exceptionally refined or beautiful quality.
visino: Little face; diminutive of 'viso,' expressing delicacy or charm.
che: That, which, who; relative pronoun or conjunction.
io: First person singular pronoun meaning 'I.'
abbia: Subjunctive form of 'avere,' meaning 'have' (I/he/she).
mai: Ever or never; used in time expressions and negations.
avuto: Past participle of 'avere,' meaning 'had.'
piacere: Pleasure; also the verb 'to please' or 'to like.'
di: Preposition meaning 'of,' 'from,' or 'about.'
contemplare: To contemplate, gaze at; to observe with close attention.
lineamenti: Facial features, lineaments; the distinctive lines of a face.
delicati: Delicate, fine; describing subtle or refined physical features.
carnagione: Complexion, skin tone; the natural color and texture of skin.
chiarissima: Very fair, very light; superlative of 'chiara' for skin.
riccioli: Curls; ringlets of hair that spiral or wave naturally.
color: Color of; shortened form of 'colore,' used attributively.
lino: Linen or flax; plant fiber also used to describe pale hair.
o: Conjunction meaning 'or,' presenting an alternative option.
piuttosto: Rather, quite; used to modify or correct a prior statement.
dorati: Golden, gilded; describing a warm gold color in hair.
ricadevano: Fell back down, hung down; imperfect tense of 'ricadere.'
sciolti: Loose, free; describing hair left untied or flowing freely.
sul: Contraction of 'su' and 'il,' meaning 'on the.'
suo: His, her, its; third person possessive adjective or pronoun.
collo: Neck; the part of the body connecting head and torso.
delicato: Delicate, gentle; refined or sensitive in appearance or manner.
occhi: Eyes; plural of 'occhio,' the organs of sight.
se: If or reflexive pronoun 'se'; conditional conjunction.
fossero: Subjunctive imperfect of 'essere,' meaning 'were' (they).
stati: Past participle of 'essere,' meaning 'been' (plural).
gradevoli: Pleasant, agreeable; producing a pleasing impression or feeling.
nell': Contraction of 'in' and 'l',' meaning 'in the.'
espressione: Expression; the look conveyed by someone's face or words.
sarebbero: Conditional of 'essere,' meaning 'they would be.'
irresistibili: Irresistible; impossible to resist or refuse, overwhelmingly attractive.
per: Preposition meaning 'for,' 'through,' or 'by.'
fortuna: Luck, fortune; good or bad chance affecting one's life.
del: Contraction of 'di' and 'il,' meaning 'of the.'
mio: My; first person singular possessive adjective (masculine).
cuore: Heart; the vital organ, also symbolizing emotion and feeling.
sensibile: Sensitive, susceptible; easily affected by emotions or impressions.
l': Elided definite article 'la' or 'lo' before a vowel.
unico: Only, unique; the sole or singular example of something.
sentimento: Feeling, sentiment; an emotional state or inner sensation.
manifestavano: They expressed, showed; imperfect tense of 'manifestare.'
oscillava: Oscillated, wavered; swung between two states or feelings.
tra: Between, among; preposition indicating position or choice.
disprezzo: Contempt, scorn; a feeling of disdain toward someone.
sorta: Sort, kind; a type or variety of something; also 'arose.'
disperazione: Desperation, despair; a state of hopelessness or anguish.
singolarmente: Singularly, remarkably; in an unusual or striking manner.
innaturale: Unnatural; not normal or expected in a given context.
in: Preposition meaning 'in,' 'into,' or 'at.'
quel: That; demonstrative adjective for masculine singular nouns.
viso: Face; the front part of the head with eyes and mouth.
I: Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine plural).
barattoli: Jars, cans; containers used to store food or goods.
erano: They were; imperfect tense of 'essere' (third plural).
quasi: Almost, nearly; indicating proximity to a state or quantity.
fuori: Outside, out of; beyond reach or physical boundaries.
dalla: Contraction of 'da' and 'la,' meaning 'from the.'
sua: His, her; third person possessive adjective (feminine form).
portata: Reach, range; the extent to which one can access something.
feci: I made, I did; first person singular past of 'fare.'
un: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (masculine).
gesto: Gesture; a movement of the body expressing meaning or intent.
aiutarla: To help her; infinitive 'aiutare' with clitic pronoun 'la.'
si: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself,' 'herself,' or 'themselves.'
voltò: Turned; third person singular past of 'voltarsi.'
verso: Toward; preposition indicating direction or orientation.
me: Me; first person singular object pronoun.
come: How, as, like; used for comparison or manner.
potrebbe: Could, might; conditional of 'potere' (third singular).
fare: To do, to make; a versatile and essential Italian verb.
avaro: Miser, miserably greedy person; one who hoards possessions.
qualcuno: Someone, somebody; an unspecified person in a statement.
tentasse: Subjunctive imperfect of 'tentare,' meaning 'were attempting.'
assisterlo: To assist him; infinitive 'assistere' with clitic pronoun 'lo.'
nel: Contraction of 'in' and 'il,' meaning 'in the.'
contare: To count; to enumerate or calculate a quantity of things.
oro: Gold; a precious yellow metal of great value.
Non: Not; negation particle placed before verbs in Italian.
ho: I have; first person singular present of 'avere.'
bisogno: Need; necessity or requirement for something specific.
aiuto: Help, assistance; support offered to someone in difficulty.
scattò: Snapped, shot back; reacted sharply and abruptly.
posso: I can; first person singular present of 'potere.'
prenderli: To take them; infinitive 'prendere' with plural clitic 'li.'
da: Preposition meaning 'from,' 'by,' or 'since.'
sola: Alone, by oneself; without assistance or company (feminine).
Chiedo: I ask, I beg; first person singular present of 'chiedere.'
scusa: Excuse, apology; used when asking forgiveness or pardon.
mi: Me, myself; first person singular reflexive or object pronoun.
affrettai: I hurried; first person singular past of 'affrettarsi.'
a: Preposition meaning 'to,' 'at,' or 'in' (a place).
rispondere: To reply, answer; to respond to a question or statement.
È: Is; third person singular present of 'essere.'
stato: Been; past participle of 'essere,' also means 'state.'
invitato: Invited; past participle of 'invitare,' also means 'guest.'
al: Contraction of 'a' and 'il,' meaning 'to the.'
tè: Tea; a hot beverage made by infusing dried leaves.
domandò: Asked, inquired; third person singular past of 'domandare.'
allacciandosi: Tying, fastening; gerund of 'allacciarsi,' doing up clothing.
grembiule: Apron; protective garment worn over clothing while working.
sopra: Over, above, on top of; indicating position or covering.
ordinato: Neat, tidy; well-arranged or properly ordered in appearance.
abito: Dress, outfit; a garment or article of clothing worn.
nero: Black; the darkest color, absorbing all light.
restando: Remaining, staying; gerund of 'restare,' continuing in place.
piedi: Feet; the lower extremities used for standing and walking.
con: With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means.
cucchiaio: Spoon; a utensil used for stirring, serving, or eating.
foglie: Leaves; plant foliage or loose tea leaves for brewing.
sospeso: Suspended, hovering; held in position above something else.
la: Definite article meaning 'the' (feminine singular).
teiera: Teapot; a vessel used for brewing and pouring tea.
Sarò: I will be; first person singular future of 'essere.'
lieto: Glad, happy; expressing willingness or pleasure about something.
prendere: To take, get; a versatile verb meaning to grasp or fetch.
tazza: Cup; a small vessel used for drinking hot beverages.
risposi: I answered; first person singular past of 'rispondere.'
ripeté: Repeated; third person singular past of 'ripetere.'
No: No; a basic negative response or refusal.
dissi: I said; first person singular past of 'dire.'
mezzo: Half; also meaning 'middle' or used in fractions.
sorriso: Smile; a facial expression showing happiness or amusement.
Lei: You (formal); polite second person singular pronoun.
è: Is; third person singular present of 'essere.'
persona: Person; an individual human being in general terms.
adatta: Suitable, fit; appropriate for a particular purpose or role.
invitarmi: To invite me; infinitive 'invitare' with first person clitic.
Gettò: Threw; third person singular past of 'gettare.'
indietro: Back, backward; indicating movement or position behind.
tutto: Everything, all; referring to the totality of something.
riprese: Resumed, took back; past tense of 'riprendere.'
posto: Place, seat, position; a specific spot or location.
sulla: Contraction of 'su' and 'la,' meaning 'on the.'
sedia: Chair; a piece of furniture designed for sitting on.
preda: Prey; also used figuratively as 'in the grip of.'
malumore: Bad mood, sulkiness; a state of irritability or discontent.
fronte: Forehead; the front part of the face above the eyebrows.
corrugata: Furrowed, wrinkled; describing a brow creased with displeasure.
labbro: Lip; one of the two fleshy parts framing the mouth.
inferiore: Lower, inferior; situated below or of lesser position.
rosso: Red; a vivid color associated with passion or intensity.
sporgente: Protruding, jutting out; extending beyond the normal surface.
quello: That; demonstrative pronoun or adjective for something distant.
bambino: Child, baby; a young person or infant in early life.
punto: About to, on the point of; also means 'point' or 'dot.'
piangere: To cry, weep; to shed tears due to emotion or pain.

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