Middlemarch — Page 1

Vocabulary

Ya

Already or now; indicates something has occurred

que

That, which, or what; common conjunction and pronoun

no

No or not; basic negation word

puedo

I can; first person singular of poder

hacer

To do or to make; essential action verb

ningún

No, none, or not any; negative adjective

bien

Well or good; indicates quality or correctness

por

For, by, or through; versatile preposition

ser

To be; fundamental linking verb in Spanish

mujer

Woman or wife; adult female person

Aspiro

I aspire; first person of aspirar, to strive toward

constantemente

Constantly or continuously; without stopping or interruption

a

To or at; basic directional or dative preposition

algo

Something or somewhat; indefinite pronoun or adverb

está

Is; third person singular present of estar

cerca

Near or close; indicates proximity in space or degree

de

Of or from; extremely common Spanish preposition

ello

It; third person neuter pronoun referring to concepts

La

The; feminine definite article in Spanish

tragedia

Tragedy; a dramatic work with a disastrous ending

la

The or her; feminine article or direct object pronoun

doncella

Maiden or maidservant; young unmarried woman or attendant

Y

And; basic coordinating conjunction connecting elements

señorita

Miss; title for an unmarried or young woman

poseía

Possessed or had; imperfect tense of poseer

ese

That; demonstrative adjective pointing to nearby thing

tipo

Type, kind, or sort; category of something

belleza

Beauty; quality of being attractive or aesthetically pleasing

parece

Seems or appears; third person of parecer

realzarse

To be enhanced or highlighted; to stand out more

con

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means

una

A or one; feminine indefinite article

vestimenta

Clothing or attire; garments worn by a person

sencilla

Simple or plain; without ornament or complexity

Su

Her, his, or your; possessive adjective third person

mano

Hand; the body part at the end of the arm

y

And; basic coordinating conjunction connecting words

su

His, her, its, or your; possessive adjective

muñeca

Wrist or doll; body part connecting hand to forearm

eran

Were; third person plural imperfect of ser

forma

Form, shape, or way; the appearance or manner of something

tan

So or as; adverb of degree in comparisons

delicada

Delicate or fine; fragile and gracefully refined

podía

Could; third person singular imperfect of poder

llevar

To wear or carry; to bear or take something along

mangas

Sleeves; fabric coverings for the arms on garments

menos

Less or fewer; comparative adverb indicating reduction

desprovistas

Devoid or lacking; without something expected or needed

estilo

Style; a distinctive manner of expression or appearance

aquellas

Those; feminine plural demonstrative pronoun or adjective

las

The; feminine plural definite article or pronoun

Santísima

Most holy; superlative form of santa, extremely sacred

Virgen

Virgin; referring to the Virgin Mary, pure woman

aparecía

Appeared; imperfect tense of aparecer, to appear

ante

Before or in front of; preposition indicating presence

los

The; masculine plural definite article or pronoun

pintores

Painters; artists who create pictures with paint

perfil

Profile; the outline or side view of a face

así

Thus, so, or like this; indicates manner or comparison

como

As, like, or how; comparison or manner conjunction

estatura

Stature or height; the physical height of a person

porte

Bearing or carriage; the way a person holds themselves

parecían

Seemed; third person plural imperfect of parecer

ganar

To gain or win; to acquire something valuable

mayor

Greater or older; comparative adjective for size or age

dignidad

Dignity; the quality of being worthy of respect

sus

Her, his, or their; plural possessive adjective

prendas

Garments or clothes; items of clothing worn on body

sencillas

Simple or plain; feminine plural of sencillo

comparadas

Compared; past participle of comparar, to compare

moda

Fashion or trend; prevailing style at a given time

provincial

Provincial; relating to rural or regional areas outside cities

le

Him, her, or you; indirect object pronoun third person

conferían

Conferred or gave; imperfect of conferir, to bestow

imponencia

Impressiveness or grandeur; quality of being imposing

hermosa

Beautiful or lovely; attractive feminine adjective

cita

Quote or appointment; a cited passage or scheduled meeting

Biblia

Bible; the sacred Christian or Jewish scripture text

o

Or; basic disjunctive conjunction offering alternatives

uno

One; number or indefinite pronoun meaning a person

nuestros

Our; masculine plural possessive adjective first person

poetas

Poets; writers who compose verse and poetry

más

More or most; comparative adverb indicating greater degree

antiguos

Ancient or old; describing things from long ago

en

In or on; preposition indicating location or time

un

A or an; masculine indefinite article

párrafo

Paragraph; a distinct section of written text

del

Of the; contraction of de and el

periódico

Newspaper; a printed daily publication of news

hoy

Today; referring to the current day

Por

For, by, or per; preposition with multiple uses

lo

It or the; neuter article or direct object pronoun

general

General; common, widespread, or a military rank

se

Reflexive pronoun; oneself, himself, herself, themselves

decía

Was said or said; imperfect of decir, to say

ella

She; third person singular feminine subject pronoun

era

Was; third person singular imperfect of ser

extraordinariamente

Extraordinarily; in a remarkably exceptional or unusual way

inteligente

Intelligent; having strong mental ability and understanding

pero

But; coordinating conjunction introducing a contrast

el

The; masculine singular definite article

añadido

Addition or added note; something supplementary or appended

hermana

Sister; a female sibling in a family

tenía

Had; third person singular imperfect of tener

sentido

Sense or meaning; judgment or practical understanding

común

Common; shared, ordinary, or referring to common sense

Sin

Without; preposition indicating absence of something

embargo

Embargo or impediment; used in sin embargo meaning however

llevaba

Wore or carried; imperfect of llevar, to wear

apenas

Barely or scarcely; hardly any amount or degree

adornos

Ornaments or accessories; decorative items worn or displayed

solo

Only or alone; just one, or without company

observadores

Observers; people who watch or notice things carefully

atentos

Attentive; paying close and careful attention to detail

podían

Could; third person plural imperfect of poder

notar

To notice or note; to perceive or observe something

vestido

Dress or outfit; a garment or the act of dressing

diferenciaba

Distinguished or differentiated; imperfect of diferenciar

cierto

Certain or a certain; definite or somewhat true

toque

Touch or touch of; a slight element or detail

coquetería

Coquetry or flirtation; playfully flirtatious behavior or style

disposición

Disposition or arrangement; tendency or orderly placement

pues

Well, since, or then; causal or filler conjunction

vestir

To dress or wear; to put clothing on oneself

sencillo

Simple or plain; without adornment or complexity

debía

Was due to or owed; imperfect of deber, to owe

mezcla

Mixture or blend; a combination of different elements

circunstancias

Circumstances; conditions or factors surrounding a situation

mayoría

Majority; more than half of a group or total

cuales

Which; relative pronoun used after prepositions

también

Also or too; indicates inclusion of another element

participaba

Participated; imperfect of participar, to take part