Middlemarch — Page 11

Vocabulary

Alors

So, then; used to introduce a statement or conclusion

vous

You (plural or formal second person pronoun)

penserez

Will think; future tense of 'penser'

que

That, which; subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun

c'

Contraction of 'ce'; it, this (before vowel)

est

Is; third person singular of 'être'

mal

Wrong, bad; harm or wrongdoing

de

Of, from; very common French preposition

ma

My; feminine singular possessive adjective

part

Part, share; 'de ma part' means on my part

le

The; masculine singular definite article

porter

To wear, to carry; common French verb

dit

Said; past tense of 'dire', to say

à

At, to, in; very common French preposition

l'

The; elided definite article before vowel

aise

Ease, comfort; 'à l'aise' means at ease

Non

No; basic negation word in French

chère

Dear; feminine term of affection or endearment

non

No; negation, repeated for emphasis here

en

In, by, while; preposition or gerund particle

caressant

Stroking, caressing; present participle of 'caresser'

la

The; feminine singular definite article

joue

Cheek; part of the face

sa

Her, his; feminine singular possessive adjective

sœur

Sister; female sibling

Les

The; plural definite article for all genders

âmes

Souls; spiritual essence of a person

ont

Have; third person plural of 'avoir'

aussi

Also, too; adverb of addition

des

Some, of the; plural indefinite or partitive article

teints

Complexions, tints; skin tones or colorings

ce

This, that; demonstrative pronoun or adjective

qui

Who, which, that; relative or interrogative pronoun

conviendra

Will suit, will be suitable; future of 'convenir'

une

A, one; feminine singular indefinite article

ne

Not; first part of French negation 'ne…pas'

pas

Not; second part of French negation 'ne…pas'

autre

Other, another; adjective or pronoun of difference

Mais

But; coordinating conjunction showing contrast

voudriez

Would want; conditional of 'vouloir', second person plural

peut-

Maybe; first part of 'peut-être', perhaps

être

To be; also 'peut-être' means perhaps, maybe

garder

To keep, to hold onto something

souvenir

Memory, keepsake; memento or remembrance of someone

maman

Mom, mama; informal word for mother

j'

I; first person singular pronoun before vowel

ai

Have; first person singular of 'avoir'

d'

Of, some; elided form of 'de' before vowel

autres

Other, others; plural form of 'autre'

affaires

Affairs, matters, business; things to deal with

boîte

Box, tin, container; a small enclosed receptacle

bois

Wood; material from trees, also 'I drink'

santal

Sandalwood; fragrant wood used in boxes or perfume

aime

Love, like; first or third person of 'aimer'

tant

So much, so many; adverb of great degree

bien

Well, good; common adverb of manner or degree

choses

Things; plural of 'chose', general objects or matters

En

In, as; preposition or pronoun replacing a noun

fait

Fact; 'en fait' means in fact, actually

elles

They; feminine third person plural pronoun

sont

Are; third person plural of 'être'

toutes

All; feminine plural form of 'tout'

Nous

We, us; first person plural pronoun

n'

Not; elided negation particle before vowel

avons

Have; first person plural of 'avoir'

plus

More, no more; adverb of quantity or negation

besoin

Need; 'avoir besoin de' means to need something

discuter

To discuss, to argue; to talk something over

Tenez

Here, take it; imperative of 'tenir', hold or take

reprenez

Take back, retake; imperative of 'reprendre'

votre

Your; formal or plural possessive adjective

se

Herself, himself, themselves; reflexive pronoun

sentit

Felt; third person singular simple past of 'sentir'

un

A, one; masculine singular indefinite article

peu

A little, a bit; adverb of small degree

blessée

Hurt, wounded; feminine past participle of 'blesser'

Il

He, it; masculine third person singular pronoun

y

There, it; pronoun replacing a place or thing

avait

There was, had; imperfect of 'avoir'

forte

Strong, great; feminine adjective of strength or intensity

présomption

Presumption, assumption; sense of superiority or arrogance

supériorité

Superiority; quality of being above others

dans

In, inside; preposition indicating location or context

cette

This, that; feminine singular demonstrative adjective

tolérance

Tolerance; acceptance of difference or other views

puritaine

Puritan; relating to strict moral or religious discipline

guère

Hardly, scarcely; negative adverb of small degree

moins

Less; comparative adverb of lesser degree

éprouvante

Trying, distressing; hard to endure emotionally

pour

For, in order to; preposition of purpose or benefit

chair

Flesh; physical body or skin

blonde

Blonde; light-colored hair or fair complexion

enthousiaste

Enthusiastic; showing eagerness or passionate interest

qu'

That, than; elided form of 'que' before vowel

persécution

Persecution; systematic mistreatment or oppression

comment

How; interrogative adverb asking about manner

puis-

Can I; first part of 'puis-je', inverted question form

je

I; first person singular subject pronoun

ornements

Ornaments, adornments; decorative objects or jewelry

si

If, so; conditional conjunction or intensifier

êtes

Are; second person plural of 'être'

aînée

Eldest; the older or oldest daughter or sibling

porterez

Will wear; future tense of 'porter', second plural

jamais

Never, ever; adverb of time negation or emphasis

trop

Too, too much; adverb of excess

demander

To ask, to request; to inquire or demand something

porte

Wears, carries; third singular present of 'porter'

colifichets

Trinkets, baubles; small showy but worthless ornaments

donner

To give; to provide or hand something to someone

contenance

Composure, countenance; outward bearing or self-possession

Si

If; conditional conjunction introducing a hypothesis

mettais

Was putting on, wore; imperfect of 'mettre'

tel

Such, such a; adjective indicating similarity or degree

collier

Necklace; piece of jewelry worn around the neck

aurais

Would have; conditional of 'avoir', first person singular

impression

Impression, feeling; a sense or perception of something

avoir

To have; fundamental auxiliary and lexical verb

pirouettes

Pirouettes, spinning turns; rapid whirling movements

Le

The; masculine singular definite article

monde

World, people; the earth or society in general

tournerait

Would turn, would spin; conditional of 'tourner'

avec

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or manner

moi

Me, myself; stressed first person singular pronoun

et

And; basic coordinating conjunction joining elements

saurais

Would know how; conditional of 'savoir'

marcher

To walk; to move on foot or to work (function)

défait

Undone, unfastened; past participle of 'défaire'

fermoir

Clasp, fastener; device that closes a necklace or bag

du

Of the; masculine singular contraction of 'de le'

retiré

Removed, taken off; past participle of 'retirer'

serait

Would be; conditional of 'être', third person singular

serré

Tight, close; past participle of 'serrer', to tighten

cou

Neck; part of the body below the head

quelque

Some, a certain; indefinite adjective of vague quantity

chose

Thing; a general or unspecified object or matter

plat

Flat; adjective describing a level or low surface

pende

Hangs; present subjunctive of 'pendre', to hang

conviendrait

Would suit, would be appropriate; conditional of 'convenir'

mieux

Better; comparative adverb of 'bien'

dit-

Said; inverted form of 'dire', used in narration

elle

She, her; feminine third person singular pronoun

satisfaction

Satisfaction; feeling of fulfillment or contentment

L'

The; elided definite article before a vowel

inadéquation

Inadequacy, unsuitability; state of not being appropriate

totale

Total, complete; feminine adjective of wholeness

tous

All, every; masculine plural form of 'tout'

égards

Respects, regards; considerations or points of view

rendait

Made, rendered; imperfect of 'rendre'

heureuse

Happy; feminine adjective expressing joy or contentment

prendre

To take; to pick up or accept something