A Modest Proposal: For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick — Page 4

Vocabulary

Car

Conjunction meaning 'because' or 'for'

nous

First person plural pronoun meaning 'we' or 'us'

ne

Negative particle used with 'pas' to negate verbs

pouvons

First person plural of 'pouvoir', meaning 'we can'

les

Definite plural article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'them'

employer

To use or employ someone or something

ni

Negative conjunction meaning 'neither' or 'nor'

dans

Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside'

l'

Contracted definite article meaning 'the' before vowels

artisanat

Skilled craft trades or handmade goods production

agriculture

The practice of farming and cultivating land

ils

Third person plural masculine pronoun meaning 'they'

construisent

Third person plural of 'construire', meaning 'they build'

pas

Negative particle used with 'ne' to negate verbs

de

Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'some'

maisons

Plural of 'maison', meaning 'houses' or 'homes'

je

First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'

veux

First person singular of 'vouloir', meaning 'I want'

dire

Infinitive verb meaning 'to say' or 'to mean'

à

Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'

la

Feminine definite article meaning 'the'

campagne

The countryside or rural areas outside a city

et

Conjunction meaning 'and'

cultivent

Third person plural of 'cultiver', meaning 'they cultivate'

terre

The earth, soil, or land

peuvent

Third person plural of 'pouvoir', meaning 'they can'

très

Adverb meaning 'very' or 'extremely'

rarement

Adverb meaning 'rarely' or 'seldom'

gagner

To earn, win, or gain something

leur

Possessive pronoun or adjective meaning 'their' or 'them'

vie

Noun meaning 'life' or 'living'

en

Preposition meaning 'in', 'by', or 'while'

volant

Present participle of 'voler', meaning 'stealing' or 'flying'

avant

Preposition or adverb meaning 'before'

d'

Contracted preposition 'de' used before a vowel

avoir

Infinitive meaning 'to have'

atteint

Past participle of 'atteindre', meaning 'reached' or 'attained'

âge

Noun meaning 'age' referring to years of life

six

The number six

ans

Plural of 'an', meaning 'years' in reference to age

sauf

Preposition or conjunction meaning 'except' or 'unless'

lorsqu'

Conjunction meaning 'when' used before a vowel

sont

Third person plural of 'être', meaning 'they are'

une

Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'

précocité

Noun meaning 'precocity' or unusual early development

remarquable

Adjective meaning 'remarkable' or 'noteworthy'

bien

Adverb meaning 'well', 'good', or 'indeed'

que

Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'than'

j'

Contracted first person pronoun 'je' before a vowel

avoue

First person singular of 'avouer', meaning 'I admit'

qu'

Contracted conjunction 'que' used before a vowel

apprennent

Third person plural of 'apprendre', meaning 'they learn'

rudiments

Basic fundamental principles or elements of a subject

plus

Adverb meaning 'more' or 'no longer' in negation

tôt

Adverb meaning 'early' or 'soon'

pendant

Preposition meaning 'during' or 'for' a period of time

ce

Demonstrative adjective or pronoun meaning 'this' or 'that'

temps

Noun meaning 'time' or 'weather'

toutefois

Adverb meaning 'however' or 'nevertheless'

être

Infinitive meaning 'to be'

considérés

Past participle of 'considérer', meaning 'considered'

juste

Adjective or adverb meaning 'just', 'fair', or 'right'

titre

Noun meaning 'title', also used in 'à juste titre' meaning rightly

comme

Conjunction or preposition meaning 'as' or 'like'

des

Plural indefinite article or partitive meaning 'some'

apprentis

Plural of 'apprenti', meaning 'apprentices' or 'trainees'

ainsi

Adverb meaning 'thus', 'so', or 'in this way'

me

First person singular object pronoun meaning 'me'

a

Third person singular of 'avoir', meaning 'has'

appris

Past participle of 'apprendre', meaning 'taught' or 'learned'

un

Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'

éminent

Adjective meaning 'eminent', distinguished, or prominent

gentilhomme

Noun meaning 'gentleman' or nobleman

du

Contracted article 'de le' meaning 'of the'

comté

Noun meaning 'county' or administrative region

qui

Relative or interrogative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which'

m'

Contracted first person object pronoun 'me' before a vowel

affirmé

Past participle of 'affirmer', meaning 'affirmed' or 'stated'

n'

Contracted negative particle 'ne' used before a vowel

jamais

Adverb meaning 'never' or 'ever'

connu

Past participle of 'connaître', meaning 'known'

ou

Conjunction meaning 'or'

deux

The number two

cas

Noun meaning 'case' or 'instance'

chez

Preposition meaning 'among', 'at', or 'in the home of'

enfants

Plural of 'enfant', meaning 'children'

moins

Adverb meaning 'less' or 'fewer'

même

Adjective or adverb meaning 'same' or 'even'

région

Noun meaning 'region' or geographical area

royaume

Noun meaning 'kingdom' or realm

si

Conjunction or adverb meaning 'if', 'so', or 'yes'

réputée

Adjective meaning 'reputed' or well-known for something

pour

Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to', or 'because of'

grande

Feminine adjective meaning 'great', 'large', or 'tall'

aptitude

Noun meaning 'aptitude', natural ability or talent

cet

Masculine demonstrative adjective 'this' before a vowel

art

Noun meaning 'art' or skill

Nos

First person plural possessive adjective meaning 'our'

marchands

Plural of 'marchand', meaning 'merchants' or 'traders'

assurent

Third person plural of 'assurer', meaning 'they assure'

garçon

Noun meaning 'boy' or young male

fille

Noun meaning 'girl' or 'daughter'

douze

The number twelve

est

Third person singular of 'être', meaning 'is'

marchandise

Noun meaning 'merchandise' or saleable commodity

vendable

Adjective meaning 'saleable' or able to be sold

atteignent

Third person plural of 'atteindre', meaning 'they reach'

rapporteront

Future tense of 'rapporter', meaning 'they will bring in'

trois

The number three

livres

Plural of 'livre', meaning 'pounds' (currency or weight)

demi

Adjective or noun meaning 'half'

couronne

Noun meaning 'crown', a coin or royal headpiece

tout

Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all', 'every', or 'whole'

au

Contracted article 'à le' meaning 'to the' or 'at the'

vente

Noun meaning 'sale' or selling of goods

peut

Third person singular of 'pouvoir', meaning 'can' or 'may'

profiter

To benefit from or take advantage of something

aux

Contracted article 'à les' meaning 'to the' (plural)

parents

Noun meaning 'parents' or relatives

le

Masculine definite article meaning 'the'

coût

Noun meaning 'cost' or expense

nourriture

Noun meaning 'food' or nourishment

leurs

Plural possessive adjective meaning 'their'

guenilles

Plural noun meaning 'rags' or worn-out clothing

ayant

Present participle of 'avoir', meaning 'having'

été

Past participle of 'être', meaning 'been'

quatre

The number four

fois

Noun meaning 'times' indicating frequency or multiplication

supérieur

Adjective meaning 'superior' or higher in value

cette

Feminine demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' or 'that'

valeur

Noun meaning 'value', worth, or importance

Je

First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'

vais

First person singular of 'aller', meaning 'I am going'

donc

Conjunction or adverb meaning 'therefore' or 'so'

maintenant

Adverb meaning 'now' or 'at this moment'

proposer

To propose, suggest, or put forward an idea

humblement

Adverb meaning 'humbly' or with modesty

mes

First person plural possessive adjective meaning 'my'

propres

Adjective meaning 'own', 'clean', or specific

réflexions

Plural of 'réflexion', meaning 'thoughts' or 'reflections'

espère

First person singular of 'espérer', meaning 'I hope'

sujettes

Feminine plural adjective meaning 'subject to' or liable

moindre

Adjective meaning 'least' or 'slightest'

objection

Noun meaning 'objection' or opposition to something