Little Women — Page 12

Vocabulary

trottait

Was trotting; moving quickly with short steps

de

Of, from; basic preposition indicating possession or origin

long

Long; describing extended length or distance

en

In, on, by; versatile preposition of location or manner

large

Wide, broad; describing great horizontal extent

entre

Between; indicating a position separating two things

le

The; masculine singular definite article

salon

Living room; main room for receiving guests

et

And; basic coordinating conjunction

la

The; feminine singular definite article

cuisine

Kitchen; room where food is prepared

calme

Calm, quiet; free from agitation or noise

affairée

Busy, bustling; actively occupied with tasks

tandis

While, whereas; used in conjunction tandis que

qu'

That, which; conjunction before vowel sound

donnait

Was giving; imperfect tense of donner

des

Some, of the; plural indefinite article

instructions

Instructions; directions given to guide actions

à

To, at, in; fundamental preposition of direction

tout

Everyone, all; referring to every person

monde

World, people; tout le monde means everyone

assise

Seated, sitting; feminine past participle of asseoir

les

The; plural definite article for nouns

mains

Hands; plural of main, body extremity

croisées

Crossed, folded; describing hands placed over each other

Alors

Then, so; transition word indicating sequence

elles

They; third person plural feminine pronoun

se

Themselves, each other; reflexive pronoun

rassemblaient

Were gathering together; imperfect of rassembler

autour

Around; indicating surrounding position

table

Table; flat-surfaced furniture for eating or working

Mme

Mrs.; abbreviation of Madame, married woman's title

dit

Said; past tense of dire, to say

avec

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or manner

un

A, an; masculine singular indefinite article

visage

Face; the front part of one's head

particulièrement

Particularly, especially; to a notable degree

heureux

Happy, joyful; feeling or expressing great pleasure

J'

I; first person singular subject pronoun before vowel

ai

Have; first person singular of avoir

une

A, an; feminine singular indefinite article

surprise

Surprise; unexpected or pleasing event or gift

pour

For; preposition indicating purpose or recipient

vous

You; second person plural or formal pronoun

après

After; indicating something following in time

dîner

Dinner; evening meal, or to dine

Un

A, one; masculine indefinite article or numeral

sourire

Smile; facial expression of happiness or pleasure

vif

Lively, bright, vivid; quick and full of energy

radieux

Radiant, beaming; shining with joy or light

fit

Made, did; third person singular passé simple of faire

tour

Round, tour; going around a complete circuit

comme

Like, as; conjunction or preposition of comparison

rayon

Ray, beam; streak of light emanating from source

soleil

Sun; the star at the center of our solar system

battit

Beat, clapped; passé simple of battre

sans

Without; preposition indicating absence of something

soucier

To worry, to care; se soucier means to be concerned

du

Of the; contraction of de le

biscuit

Biscuit, cookie; small baked sweet or savory treat

elle

She; third person singular feminine pronoun

tenait

Was holding; imperfect tense of tenir

lança

Threw, launched; passé simple of lancer

sa

Her, his; feminine singular possessive adjective

serviette

Napkin, towel; cloth used at meals or for drying

l'

The; definite article before vowel or mute h

air

Air; atmosphere, or manner and appearance

s'

Oneself; reflexive pronoun before vowel

écriant

Exclaiming, crying out; present participle of s'écrier

Une

A, one; feminine indefinite article

lettre

Letter; written message sent to someone

Trois

Three; the number between two and four

hourras

Cheers, hurrahs; shouts of joy or enthusiasm

Père

Father; male parent, also used as a title

Oui

Yes; affirmative response word

belle

Beautiful, lovely; feminine form of beau

longue

Long; feminine form of long, extended in length

Il

He, it; third person singular masculine pronoun

va

Goes, is doing; third person singular of aller

bien

Well, fine; adverb of manner indicating good condition

pense

Thinks, believes; first/third person of penser

il

He, it; third person singular masculine pronoun

traversera

Will get through; future tense of traverser

saison

Season; one of the four periods of the year

froide

Cold; feminine adjective describing low temperature

mieux

Better; comparative adverb of bien

que

Than, that, which; conjunction used in comparisons

nous

We, us; first person plural pronoun

ne

Not; part of French negation ne...pas

craignions

Were fearing; imperfect tense of craindre

envoie

Sends; third person singular of envoyer

toutes

All; feminine plural of tout

sortes

Sorts, kinds; varieties or types of things

vœux

Wishes, greetings; plural of vœu

affectueux

Affectionate, loving; showing warmth and fondness

Noël

Christmas; the Christian holiday on December 25th

message

Message; written or spoken communication to someone

particulier

Special, particular; distinct or specific to someone

mes

My; first person plural possessive adjective

filles

Girls, daughters; young females or female offspring

tapotant

Tapping, patting; gently striking repeatedly

poche

Pocket; small bag sewn into clothing

si

If, so; conditional conjunction or intensifier

y

There, in it; pronoun replacing a place or thing

avait

Had, there was; imperfect of avoir

trésor

Treasure; something precious or highly valued

Dépêche

Hurry; imperative of se dépêcher, to hurry up

toi

You; second person singular stressed pronoun

finir

To finish; to bring something to completion

Ne

Not; first element of French negation ne...pas

t'

Yourself; reflexive pronoun before vowel

arrête

Stop; imperative of s'arrêter, to stop

pas

Not; second part of French negation ne...pas

faire

To do, to make; fundamental French infinitive

manières

Manners, affectations; social behaviors or pretensions

ton

Your; second person singular possessive adjective

petit

Small, little; adjective describing small size

doigt

Finger; one of the digits on a hand

levant

Raising, lifting; present participle of lever

minauder

To simper, to affect coy manners; to act affectedly

au

To the, at the; contraction of à le

dessus

Above, over; indicating a position higher up

assiette

Plate, dish; flat container used for serving food

écria

Exclaimed; passé simple of s'écrier

étranglant

Choking on; present participle of étrangler

son

His, her, its; third person singular possessive adjective

thé

Tea; hot beverage brewed from dried leaves

laissant

Leaving, letting; present participle of laisser

tomber

To fall; to drop down from a higher position

pain

Bread; staple baked food made from dough

côté

Side; lateral part or direction of something

beurre

Butter; dairy fat spread made from cream

contre

Against; preposition of opposition or contact

tapis

Carpet, rug; floor covering made of fabric

dans

In, inside; preposition of location or time

hâte

Haste, hurry; speed or urgency in actions

d'

Of, from; preposition de before vowel

accéder

To access, to reach; to gain entry to something

mangea

Ate; third person singular passé simple of manger

plus

More, no more; comparative or negation adverb

rien

Nothing; negation meaning not anything

mais

But; conjunction expressing contrast or opposition

glissa

Slipped away; passé simple of glisser

coin

Corner, nook; a secluded or angled spot

ombragé

Shaded, shadowy; covered or sheltered from light

perdre

To lose, to lose oneself; to be absorbed in thought

ses

Her, his, its; plural possessive adjective

pensées

Thoughts; ideas or reflections in one's mind

sur

On, about; preposition of position or topic

plaisir

Pleasure, delight; enjoyable feeling or anticipation

venir

To come; to move toward the speaker

jusqu'

Until, up to; preposition before vowel

ce

This, that; demonstrative adjective or pronoun

autres

Others; the remaining or different people

soient

Be; subjunctive of être, used after jusqu'à ce que

prêtes

Ready; feminine plural adjective meaning prepared

Je

I; first person singular subject pronoun

trouve

Find, think; first person singular of trouver

était

Was; third person singular imperfect of être

admirable

Admirable, praiseworthy; deserving great respect

part

Part, role; de sa part means on his/her part

partir

To leave, to depart; to go away from a place

aumônier

Chaplain; clergyman serving military or institution

alors

Then, so; adverb of time or logical consequence

trop

Too, too much; exceeding a suitable amount

vieux

Old; adjective describing advanced age

être

To be; fundamental verb of existence or identity

conscrit

Conscript, draftee; person compulsorily enlisted in military

assez

Enough, quite; sufficient degree or amount

robuste

Robust, sturdy; strong and physically hardy

soldat

Soldier; person serving in an army

chaleureusement

Warmly; in a warm and enthusiastic manner

Si

If, only if; conditional conjunction or intensifier

seulement

Only, just; limiting something to a single condition

je

I; first person singular subject pronoun

pouvais

Could; imperfect tense of pouvoir

aller

To go; fundamental verb of movement

tambour

Drum; percussion instrument beaten with sticks

comment

How, what; interrogative word asking for manner

ça

That, it; informal demonstrative pronoun

appelle

Is called; third person singular of appeler