Heart of Darkness — Page 9

Vocabulary

Ce

Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this' or 'it'

n'

Contraction of 'ne', used in negation

était

Past tense of 'être'; 'was' or 'were'

que

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

du

Contraction of 'de le'; 'of the' or 'some'

brigandage

Robbery or banditry carried out by armed groups

avec

Preposition meaning 'with'

violence

Use of physical force causing harm or damage

un

Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'

meurtre

The act of unlawfully killing another person

aggravé

Made worse or more serious; aggravated

à

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

grande

Adjective meaning 'large', 'great', or 'big'

échelle

Scale, ladder; here referring to magnitude or extent

et

Conjunction meaning 'and'

des

Plural indefinite article meaning 'some' or 'of the'

hommes

Plural of 'homme'; men or human beings

s'

Reflexive pronoun contraction; 'themselves' or 'oneself'

y

Pronoun meaning 'there' or 'to it'

lançant

Present participle of 'lancer'; throwing or rushing into

en

Preposition or pronoun meaning 'in', 'by', or 'some'

aveugles

Blind persons; acting without sight or reason

comme

Conjunction meaning 'as', 'like', or 'how'

il

Third-person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'

convient

Third-person form of 'convenir'; suits or is fitting

tout

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

fait

Noun or verb form meaning 'fact', 'deed', or 'done'

ceux

Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' or 'the ones'

qui

Relative pronoun meaning 'who', 'which', or 'that'

attaquent

Third-person plural of 'attaquer'; they attack or assault

aux

Contraction of 'à les'; 'to the' or 'at the'

ténèbres

Darkness, shadow; often used metaphorically for evil

La

Definite feminine article meaning 'the'

conquête

The act of conquering or seizing territory by force

de

Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'

la

Definite feminine article meaning 'the'

terre

Earth, land, or ground; the physical world

signifie

Third-person singular of 'signifier'; means or signifies

surtout

Adverb meaning 'above all', 'especially', or 'mainly'

prendre

Infinitive verb meaning 'to take' or 'to seize'

ont

Third-person plural of 'avoir'; they have

teint

Complexion or skin tone; color of the face

différent

Adjective meaning 'different' or 'unlike'

ou

Conjunction meaning 'or'

le

Definite masculine article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'it'

nez

Noun meaning 'nose', the facial feature

légèrement

Adverb meaning 'slightly', 'lightly', or 'a little'

plus

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

plat

Adjective meaning 'flat' or 'level'

nôtre

Possessive pronoun meaning 'ours'

est

Third-person singular of 'être'; 'is'

pas

Negation particle meaning 'not'; also 'step'

une

Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'

belle

Feminine adjective meaning 'beautiful' or 'lovely'

chose

Noun meaning 'thing' or 'matter'

quand

Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'

on

Indefinite pronoun meaning 'one', 'we', or 'people'

l'

Contracted definite article or pronoun before a vowel

examine

Third-person singular of 'examiner'; examines or scrutinizes

trop

Adverb meaning 'too' or 'too much'

près

Adverb or preposition meaning 'near' or 'closely'

rachète

Third-person of 'racheter'; redeems or makes up for

c'

Contraction of 'ce'; demonstrative pronoun 'it' or 'this'

idée

Noun meaning 'idea' or 'thought'

seule

Feminine adjective meaning 'alone', 'only', or 'sole'

Une

Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'

derrière

Preposition or adverb meaning 'behind' or 'at the back'

cela

Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'this'

non

Adverb meaning 'no' or 'not'

semblant

Present participle of 'sembler'; seeming or pretending

sentimental

Adjective meaning 'sentimental' or driven by emotion

mais

Conjunction meaning 'but'

croyance

Noun meaning 'belief' or 'faith'

désintéressée

Adjective meaning 'disinterested', selfless, or unbiased

cette

Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' or 'that' (feminine)

quelque

Adjective meaning 'some', 'a certain', or 'any'

peut

Third-person singular of 'pouvoir'; 'can' or 'may'

ériger

To erect, build up, or establish something formally

devant

Preposition meaning 'in front of' or 'before'

quoi

Interrogative or relative pronoun meaning 'what'

incliner

To bow, tilt, or incline toward something

offrir

Infinitive meaning 'to offer' or 'to give'

sacrifice

An offering given up for a higher purpose or deity

Il

Third-person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'

interrompit

Past tense of 'interrompre'; he interrupted or broke off

Des

Plural indefinite article meaning 'some' or 'of the'

flammes

Plural of 'flamme'; flames or flickers of fire

glissaient

Imperfect tense of 'glisser'; they were gliding or sliding

sur

Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'over'

rivière

Noun meaning 'river' or 'stream'

petites

Feminine plural adjective meaning 'small' or 'little'

vertes

Feminine plural of 'vert'; green in color

rouges

Plural adjective meaning 'red'

blanches

Feminine plural of 'blanc'; white in color

se

Reflexive pronoun meaning 'themselves' or 'each other'

poursuivant

Present participle of 'poursuivre'; chasing or continuing

dépassant

Present participle of 'dépasser'; overtaking or surpassing

rejoignant

Present participle of 'rejoindre'; rejoining or catching up

croisant

Present participle of 'croiser'; crossing or intersecting

puis

Adverb meaning 'then', 'next', or 'afterwards'

séparant

Present participle of 'séparer'; separating or parting

lentement

Adverb meaning 'slowly'

précipitamment

Adverb meaning 'hastily', 'hurriedly', or 'rashly'

Le

Definite masculine article meaning 'the'

trafic

Traffic, movement of vehicles or commerce through an area

ville

Noun meaning 'city' or 'town'

poursuivait

Imperfect of 'poursuivre'; was continuing or pursuing

dans

Preposition meaning 'in', 'inside', or 'within'

nuit

Noun meaning 'night'

approfondissait

Imperfect of 'approfondir'; was deepening or intensifying

fleuve

A large river flowing into the sea

sans

Preposition meaning 'without'

sommeil

Noun meaning 'sleep' or 'slumber'

Nous

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

regardions

Imperfect of 'regarder'; we were watching or looking at

attendant

Present participle of 'attendre'; waiting or expecting

patiemment

Adverb meaning 'patiently'

avait

Imperfect of 'avoir'; there was or he/she had

rien

Pronoun meaning 'nothing' or 'not anything'

d'

Contraction of 'de' before a vowel; 'of' or 'from'

autre

Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another'

faire

Infinitive meaning 'to do' or 'to make'

jusqu'

Contraction of 'jusqu'à'; meaning 'until' or 'up to'

fin

Noun meaning 'end' or 'finish'; adjective 'fine'

marée

Noun meaning 'tide'; rise and fall of sea level

montante

Feminine adjective meaning 'rising' or 'incoming' (tide)

ce

Demonstrative adjective or pronoun meaning 'this' or 'it'

qu'

Contraction of 'que' before a vowel; 'that' or 'which'

après

Preposition or adverb meaning 'after' or 'afterwards'

long

Adjective meaning 'long' in duration or length

silence

Noun meaning 'silence' or 'quietness'

lorsqu'

Contraction of 'lorsque'; conjunction meaning 'when'

dit

Past tense of 'dire'; said or spoke

voix

Noun meaning 'voice'

hésitante

Feminine adjective meaning 'hesitant' or 'uncertain'

Je

First-person singular pronoun meaning 'I'

suppose

First-person of 'supposer'; I suppose or assume

vous

Second-person pronoun meaning 'you' (formal or plural)

rappelez

Second-person plural of 'rappeler'; you remember or recall

mes

Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (plural)

amis

Plural of 'ami'; friends

j'

Contraction of 'je'; first-person singular pronoun 'I'

ai

First-person singular of 'avoir'; 'I have'

bien

Adverb meaning 'well', 'indeed', or 'very'

été

Past participle of 'être'; 'been'; also noun 'summer'

jour

Noun meaning 'day' or 'daylight'

marin

Adjective or noun meaning 'marine', 'sailor', or 'seaman'

eau

Noun meaning 'water'

douce

Feminine adjective meaning 'sweet', 'fresh', or 'gentle'

pendant

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

temps

Noun meaning 'time' or 'weather'

nous

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

sûmes

Simple past of 'savoir'; we knew or came to know

étions

Imperfect of 'être'; we were

destinés

Past participle of 'destiner'; destined or fated

avant

Preposition or adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front'

jusant

Noun meaning 'ebb tide'; outgoing flow of the tide

ne

Negation particle used with 'pas', 'rien', etc.

commence

Third-person singular of 'commencer'; begins or starts

couler

Infinitive meaning 'to flow', 'to sink', or 'to run'

entendre

Infinitive meaning 'to hear' or 'to understand'

expériences

Plural of 'expérience'; experiences or experiments

conclusion

Noun meaning 'conclusion' or 'end result'