Meditations — Page 2

Vocabulary

C'

Contraction of 'ce'; used before 'est' meaning 'it is'

est

Third person singular of 'être'; means 'is'

ainsi

In this way; thus; so

qu'

Contraction of 'que'; that or which before vowel

n'

Contraction of 'ne'; part of French negation construction

ayant

Present participle of 'avoir'; meaning 'having'

pas

Used with 'ne' to form negation; not

de

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

fils

Son; male offspring of a parent

adopta

Past tense of 'adopter'; took legally as child

lui

Personal pronoun meaning 'him' or 'to him'

changeant

Present participle of 'changer'; changing or altering

son

Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'

nom

Name; the word by which someone is called

en

Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'as'

celui

Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'the one' or 'that one'

par

Preposition meaning 'by', 'through', or 'per'

lequel

Relative pronoun meaning 'which' or 'whom'

il

Personal pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'

connu

Past participle of 'connaître'; known or recognized

et

Conjunction meaning 'and'

le

Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular)

fiança

Past tense of 'fiancer'; betrothed or engaged someone

à

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

sa

Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (feminine)

fille

Daughter; a female child of a parent

Son

Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'

éducation

Education; the process of teaching and learning

fut

Simple past of 'être'; was (literary/formal tense)

conduite

Past participle of 'conduire'; conducted or led

avec

Preposition meaning 'with'

plus

More; used in comparisons or to indicate greater degree

grand

Great or large; of considerable size or importance

soin

Care; careful attention given to something

Les

Definite article meaning 'the' (plural)

professeurs

Teachers or professors; those who instruct others

les

Definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' (plural)

capables

Capable; competent or able to do something well

furent

Simple past plural of 'être'; were (literary tense)

engagés

Past participle of 'engager'; hired or employed

pour

Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'

formé

Past participle of 'former'; formed, shaped, or trained

la

Definite article meaning 'the' (feminine singular)

doctrine

Doctrine; a set of principles or beliefs taught

rigoureuse

Rigorous; strict, thorough, and demanding in approach

philosophie

Philosophy; study of fundamental questions about existence

stoïcienne

Stoic; relating to the ancient philosophy of Stoicism

qui

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

était

Imperfect of 'être'; was or used to be

délice

Delight; something that gives great pleasure or joy

On

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

apprit

Simple past of 'apprendre'; learned or taught

s'

Reflexive pronoun contraction; oneself (before vowel)

habiller

To dress; to put on or wear clothing

simplement

Simply; in a plain, modest, or uncomplicated manner

vivre

To live; to be alive or to exist

modestement

Modestly; in a humble or unpretentious manner

éviter

To avoid; to keep away from something

toute

All or every; feminine singular form of 'tout'

mollesse

Softness or weakness; lack of vigor or discipline

tout

All, every, or completely; masculine singular form

luxe

Luxury; great comfort or extravagant lifestyle

corps

Body; the physical structure of a living being

aguerri

Hardened or toughened by experience, especially combat

lutte

Wrestling or struggle; physical or figurative fight

chasse

Hunting; the pursuit of wild animals for sport

jeux

Games; activities done for amusement or competition

plein

Full or open; complete or not enclosed

air

Air; the open atmosphere or outdoor environment

bien

Well or good; in a satisfactory or proper manner

que

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

constitution

Constitution; physical makeup or health of a person

fût

Imperfect subjunctive of 'être'; were (literary form)

fragile

Fragile; easily broken, damaged, or delicate in health

fit

Simple past of 'faire'; did or made

preuve

Proof or evidence; demonstration of a quality

d'

Contraction of 'de' before vowel; of or from

un

Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (masculine)

courage

Courage; the ability to face danger or difficulty

personnel

Personal; relating to an individual person directly

affronter

To confront or face; to deal with boldly

sangliers

Wild boars; fierce tusked wild pigs hunted for sport

féroces

Ferocious; extremely fierce, violent, or savage

En

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

même

Same or even; identical or used for emphasis

temps

Time or weather; a period or duration

on

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

préserva

Simple past of 'préserver'; protected or kept safe

des

Partial article meaning 'some' or 'of the' (plural)

extravagances

Extravagances; excessive or wild behaviors or spending

époque

Era or period; a specific time in history

La

Definite article meaning 'the' (feminine singular)

grande

Great or large; feminine form of 'grand'

agitation

Agitation; a state of anxiety, unrest, or turmoil

rivalité

Rivalry; competition or opposition between two parties

Factions

Factions; organized groups competing against each other

comme

As or like; used for comparison or explanation

appelait

Imperfect of 'appeler'; called or used to call

dans

Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside'

cirque

Circus; a Roman arena for chariot races and spectacles

conducteurs

Drivers or conductors; those who lead or operate vehicles

courses

Races; competitive running or vehicle competitions

adoptaient

Imperfect of 'adopter'; used to adopt or take on

l'

Contraction of 'le' or 'la' before a vowel

une

Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (feminine)

quatre

Four; the number between three and five

couleurs

Colors; visual properties produced by light wavelengths

rouge

Red; the color of blood or ripe tomatoes

bleu

Blue; the color of the sky or ocean

blanc

White; the color of snow or pure light

ou

Conjunction meaning 'or'; presenting an alternative

vert

Green; the color of grass or leaves

leurs

Possessive adjective meaning 'their' (plural form)

partisans

Supporters or partisans; devoted followers of a cause

montraient

Imperfect of 'montrer'; used to show or display

leur

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

soutien

Support; backing or assistance given to someone

zèle

Zeal; great enthusiasm or dedication toward a cause

rien

Nothing; not anything at all

ne

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

pouvait

Imperfect of 'pouvoir'; could or was able to

surpasser

To surpass; to exceed or go beyond in degree

sédition

Sedition; conduct inciting rebellion against authority

corruption

Corruption; dishonest or illegal behavior by those in power

suivaient

Imperfect of 'suivre'; used to follow or come after

sillage

Wake or trail; the path left behind by something moving

chars

Chariots or floats; horse-drawn vehicles used in races

course

Race or running; a competitive speed event

toutes

All; feminine plural form of 'tout'

ces

Demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' or 'those'

choses

Things; objects, matters, or subjects in general

se

Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself', 'himself', 'herself'

tint

Simple past of 'tenir'; held or kept oneself

rigoureusement

Rigorously; in a strict, thorough, or precise manner

écart

Distance or gap; keeping away from something

élevé

Raised or elevated; brought to a higher position

au

Contraction of 'à le'; meaning 'to the' or 'at the'

consulat

Consulship; the office of a Roman consul

ses

Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (plural)

fiançailles

Engagement; a formal agreement to marry someone

consommées

Consummated or completed; fully carried out or finalized

mariage

Marriage; the legal union of two people

Deux

Two; the number between one and three

ans

Years; units of time equal to twelve months

tard

Late or later; after the expected or usual time

donna

Simple past of 'donner'; gave or granted

peu

Little or few; a small amount or degree

après

After; following in time or sequence

autres

Other or others; different or additional ones

honneurs

Honors; special recognition or marks of respect

impériaux

Imperial; relating to an empire or emperor

conférés

Past participle of 'conférer'; conferred or bestowed

Pieux

Pious; deeply religious or devout (here a proper name)

mourut

Simple past of 'mourir'; died (literary tense)

prit

Simple past of 'prendre'; took or seized

charge

Charge or responsibility; the duty of managing something

état

State; a nation or condition of affairs

impérial

Imperial; relating to or befitting an empire

Il

Personal pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'

associa

Simple past of 'associer'; associated or partnered with

aussitôt

Immediately; at once or right away