Alexey Sklyarenko: In Russian we call gray eyes serye glaza. The epithet sizyi
(blue-gray, dove-colored) is hardly ever used to describe the eye iris
(only the unshaven cheeks can be sizye). I always imagined Lolita's eyes as
dymchato-serye (hazy-gray). See also A. Dolinin's "A Note on the Last Name of
Dolores Haze alias Lolita" in The Nabokovian #50. Cinderella's Russian name is Zolushka (from zola, ashes, plus
the diminutive suffix). Btw., as a child I was sure it came from zoloto
(gold).Yes, Gradus is
a jolly Naburlesque name. The Russian noun gradus has more meanings than
its English homograph and is even used idiomatically. Btw., gradusnik
is Russian for "thermometer".Speaking of
proper names, there is no "Prof. Lapin" in ADA. There are Dr Lapiner and
Professor Lagosse.
JM: Once again,
thanks for the explanation, Alexey.
Children are the true alchemists
(ash/lead/gold) and childhood memoirs, such as Nabokov's, are a fountain of
eternal youth!
btw: Loved the coinage of
"Naburlesque."
Sorry for mentioning improper
names, my memory is treacherous and I hadn't returned to "Ada" to check
them..