On the Method of Zadig: Essay #1 from "Science and Hebrew Tradition" — Page 4

Vocabulary

Je

First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'

n'

Contraction of 'ne', used in negation

ai

First person singular of 'avoir', meaning 'have'

rien

Nothing; used in negative constructions

vu

Past participle of 'voir', meaning 'seen'

de

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

ce

Demonstrative adjective or pronoun meaning 'this' or 'that'

cheval

A large domesticated animal used for riding

et

Conjunction meaning 'and'

je

First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'

en

Preposition or pronoun meaning 'in', 'of it', 'some'

jamais

Never; used in negative or emphatic contexts

entendu

Past participle of 'entendre', meaning 'heard'

parler

To speak or talk about something

auparavant

Adverb meaning 'before' or 'previously'

répondit

Third person singular past tense of 'répondre', meaning 'replied'

Le

Masculine definite article meaning 'the'

grand

Adjective meaning 'great', 'large', or 'tall'

veneur

A master of the hunt; chief huntsman

le

Masculine definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'him'

premier

Adjective meaning 'first' or 'chief'

eunuque

A castrated man serving in a royal household

s'

Reflexive pronoun contraction meaning 'himself', 'herself', 'themselves'

assurèrent

Third person plural past tense of 'assurer', meaning 'assured'

que

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

avait

Third person singular imperfect of 'avoir', meaning 'had'

volé

Past participle of 'voler', meaning 'stolen' or 'flown'

à

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

la

Feminine definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'her'

fois

Time or occurrence, as in 'at the same time'

du

Contraction of 'de le', meaning 'of the'

Roi

A male monarch; king

l'

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

épagneul

A spaniel; a breed of dog

Reine

A female monarch; queen

si

Conjunction meaning 'if' or adverb meaning 'so'

bien

Adverb meaning 'well' or 'very'

qu'

Contraction of 'que' before a vowel meaning 'that'

ils

Third person plural pronoun meaning 'they'

traduisirent

Past tense of 'traduire', here meaning 'brought before court'

devant

Preposition meaning 'in front of' or 'before'

Haute

Adjective meaning 'high' or 'supreme'

Cour

A court, especially a royal or legal court

qui

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

condamna

Past tense of 'condamner', meaning 'condemned' or 'sentenced'

sur

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

champ

Field; in 'sur-le-champ' meaning immediately

au

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

knout

A harsh whip used as a punishment in imperial Russia

déportation

The act of forcibly sending someone to another place

vie

Life; existence

Sibérie

A vast region of Russia often used for exile

Mais

Conjunction meaning 'but'

sentence

A judicial verdict or condemnation

était

Third person singular imperfect of 'être', meaning 'was'

peine

Punishment; penalty; or difficulty

prononcée

Past participle of 'prononcer', meaning 'pronounced' or 'declared'

perdus

Past participle of 'perdre', meaning 'lost'

furent

Third person plural simple past of 'être', meaning 'were'

retrouvés

Past participle of 'retrouver', meaning 'found again'

Les

Plural definite article meaning 'the'

juges

Plural of 'juge'; judges or magistrates

se

Reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself', 'herself', 'themselves'

trouvèrent

Past tense of 'trouver', meaning 'found themselves'

donc

Adverb or conjunction meaning 'therefore' or 'so'

dans

Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside'

douloureuse

Adjective meaning 'painful' or 'distressing'

nécessité

A pressing need or obligation

réviser

To review or reconsider a decision or judgment

leur

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

jugement

A legal judgment or verdict

mais

Conjunction meaning 'but'

condamnèrent

Past tense of 'condamner', meaning 'condemned'

une

Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'

amende

A monetary fine imposed as punishment

quatre

The number four

cents

Plural of 'cent'; hundreds

onces

Plural of 'once'; ounces as a unit of weight

d'

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

or

Gold; precious yellow metal

pour

Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to'

avoir

To have; used as auxiliary or main verb

dit

Past participle of 'dire', meaning 'said'

il

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

pas

Negation word meaning 'not'; also 'step'

La

Feminine definite article meaning 'the'

première

Feminine adjective meaning 'first'

chose

A thing or object

fut

Third person singular simple past of 'être', meaning 'was'

payer

To pay money owed

ensuite

Adverb meaning 'then' or 'afterwards'

autorisé

Past participle of 'autoriser', meaning 'authorized' or 'allowed'

présenter

To present or introduce something formally

sa

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

défense

A legal defense; argument in one's own favor

tribunal

A court of law or judicial body

fit

Simple past of 'faire', meaning 'made' or 'did'

les

Plural definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'them'

termes

Terms, words, or expressions used in a speech

suivants

Adjective meaning 'following' or 'next'

Étoiles

Stars; luminous celestial bodies

justice

The fair administration of law and punishment

abîmes

Abysses; very deep spaces or pits

savoir

To know; knowledge or understanding

miroirs

Mirrors; reflective surfaces

vérité

Truth; that which is true or accurate

dont

Relative pronoun meaning 'whose', 'of which', 'from which'

gravité

Gravity; seriousness or the physical force

est

Third person singular of 'être', meaning 'is'

celle

Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that one' (feminine)

plomb

Lead; a heavy, soft, grey metal

inflexibilité

The quality of being rigid or unyielding

fer

Iron; a common hard metallic element

rivalisez

Second person plural of 'rivaliser', meaning 'you rival'

avec

Preposition meaning 'with'

diamant

A diamond; the hardest precious gemstone

clarté

Clarity; brightness or clearness

possédez

Second person plural of 'posséder', meaning 'you possess'

affinité

A natural attraction or kinship between things

non

Adverb or response meaning 'no' or 'not'

négligeable

Adjective meaning 'negligible' or 'insignificant'

puisqu'

Contraction of 'puisque', meaning 'since' or 'given that'

m'

Contraction of 'me', meaning 'me' or 'myself'

permis

Past participle of 'permettre', meaning 'permitted' or 'allowed'

adresser

To address or speak to someone formally

votre

Possessive adjective meaning 'your' (formal or plural)

auguste

Adjective meaning 'august', 'noble', or 'venerable'

assemblée

An assembly or gathered group of people

jure

First person singular of 'jurer', meaning 'I swear'

par

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

respectable

Worthy of respect or esteem

chienne

A female dog; bitch

ni

Conjunction meaning 'nor' or 'neither'

contemplé

Past participle of 'contempler', meaning 'contemplated' or 'beheld'

sacro

Prefix meaning 'sacred' or 'holy'

saint

Holy; sacred; or a religious saint

des

Contraction of 'de les', plural article meaning 'of the' or 'some'

Rois

Plural of 'roi'; kings

Voici

Here is; used to present or introduce something

passé

Past; what happened; or past tense

me

First person singular object pronoun meaning 'me'

promenais

Imperfect tense of 'se promener', meaning 'was walking'

direction

A direction or course toward a destination

petit

Adjective meaning 'small' or 'little'

bois

A wood or small forest; also wood as material

près

Adverb or preposition meaning 'near' or 'close to'

duquel

Relative pronoun meaning 'from which' or 'near which'

j'

Contraction of 'je' before a vowel meaning 'I'

eus

Simple past of 'avoir', meaning 'had'

honneur

Honor; great respect or privilege

rencontrer

To meet or encounter someone

vénérable

Adjective meaning 'venerable'; worthy of deep respect

très

Adverb meaning 'very' or 'extremely'

illustre

Adjective meaning 'illustrious' or 'distinguished'