Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone — Page 2

Vocabulary

dénonce

denounces, reports or exposes a wrongdoing

le

the, masculine singular definite article

crime

crime, a serious illegal or immoral act

dont

of which, whose, relative pronoun indicating possession

il

he, third person masculine singular pronoun

ignore

is unaware of, does not know something

être

to be, fundamental linking or auxiliary verb

l'

the, elided form of le or la before vowel

auteur

author or perpetrator of an act or work

et

and, coordinating conjunction linking words or clauses

entreprend

undertakes, sets about doing something with determination

de

of, from, preposition with many grammatical uses

retrouver

to find again, to track down someone or something

coupable

guilty, the person responsible for a crime

Peu

little, few, indicating a small amount or degree

à

to, at, preposition indicating direction or location

peu

little, used in 'peu à peu' meaning gradually

lui

him, to him, indirect object or stressed pronoun

est

is, third person singular present tense of être

démontré

demonstrated, proven through evidence or reasoning

qu'

that, elided conjunction introducing a subordinate clause

même

same, even, himself, used for emphasis or comparison

cet

this, masculine demonstrative adjective before vowel sound

homme

man, adult male human being

La

the, feminine singular definite article

scène

scene, a unit of dramatic action or setting

finale

final, the last scene or moment of something

révèle

reveals, discloses something previously hidden or unknown

tuée

killed, feminine past participle of tuer

sa

his, her, its, possessive adjective for singular noun

propre

own, clean; here meaning one's very own hand

main

hand, the body part at the end of the arm

s'

himself, herself, elided reflexive pronoun before vowel

étant

being, present participle of être used in constructions

aveuglé

blinded, having had one's sight taken away

implorant

imploring, begging desperately for something or mercy

la

the, feminine singular definite article

mort

death, the end of life

ou

or, coordinating conjunction presenting an alternative

exil

exile, banishment from one's homeland or community

PERSONNAGES

characters, the dramatis personae of a play

Le

the, masculine singular definite article

Prêtre

priest, a religious minister or officiant

Chœur

chorus, group of performers commenting on dramatic action

des

of the, some, plural partitive or contracted article

Anciens

elders, respected older members of a community

Un

a, one, masculine indefinite article or numeral

Messager

messenger, one who carries news or official messages

Berger

shepherd, one who tends and herds sheep

second

second, the one coming after the first

se

oneself, reflexive pronoun for third person subjects

passe

takes place, happens, passes in time or space

devant

in front of, before, indicating position or direction

palais

palace, the grand residence of a ruler or king

d'

of, from, elided preposition before a vowel

ROI

king, male monarch ruling over a kingdom

Des

some, of the, plural indefinite or partitive article

suppliants

suppliants, people who beg humbly for help or mercy

tout

all, every, entirely, indicating totality or completeness

âge

age, the length of time someone has lived

sont

are, third person plural present tense of être

assis

seated, sitting down, past participle of s'asseoir

autour

around, surrounding something on all sides

autel

altar, a sacred table used for religious offerings

les

the, plural definite article for masculine and feminine

portes

doors, entrances or gates of a building

du

of the, contracted masculine singular definite article

leur

their, possessive adjective for plural owners

tête

head, the uppermost part of the human body

un

a, one, masculine indefinite article or numeral

PRÊTRE

priest, a religious minister who performs sacred rites

DE

of, from, preposition indicating origin or belonging

entre

enters, comes in, or between two things

avance

advances, moves forward toward someone or something

vers

toward, in the direction of someone or something

eux

them, stressed third person masculine plural pronoun

Mes

my, possessive adjective used before plural nouns

enfants

children, young people or affectionate address to group

derniers

last, most recent, final in a series or group

rejetons

offspring, descendants, shoots of a plant or lineage

vieux

old, aged, of advanced age or long existence

Pourquoi

why, asking for the reason or purpose of something

vous

you, second person plural or formal singular pronoun

tenez

hold, stay, keep; second person plural of tenir

ici

here, in this place or location

en

in, of it, on, preposition or pronoun with many uses

avec

with, together with, accompanied by something or someone

vos

your, possessive adjective before plural nouns

mains

hands, the body parts at the end of both arms

branches

branches, boughs of a tree or plant

olivier

olive tree, Mediterranean tree with sacred significance

ornées

adorned, decorated with ornamental details or objects

laine

wool, the soft fiber from sheep used in textiles

Que

what, that, interrogative or relative pronoun or conjunction

signifient

mean, signify; third person plural of signifier

ces

these, those, plural demonstrative adjective

encens

incense, aromatic substance burned in religious ceremonies

répandues

spread, diffused, scattered throughout a place

partout

everywhere, in every place or location

Et

and, coordinating conjunction connecting words or clauses

lamentations

lamentations, expressions of deep grief or mourning

Enfants

children, affectionate address meaning my dear ones

ne

not, negative particle used with pas or other negatives

m'

me, elided first person singular object pronoun

aurait

would have, conditional form of avoir

pas

not, negative particle used with ne

convenu

suited, been appropriate or fitting for someone

apprendre

to learn or to teach something to someone

cela

that, demonstrative pronoun referring to something distant

Par

by, through, via, preposition indicating means or agent

autres

others, other people or things beside the current ones

je

I, first person singular subject pronoun

suis

am, first person singular present tense of être

venu

come, past participle of venir indicating arrival

personne

person, or nobody when used with ne

Moi

me, I, stressed first person singular pronoun

votre

your, possessive adjective for singular or plural you

roi

king, male sovereign ruler of a kingdom

renommée

renown, fame, widespread reputation for excellence

universelle

universal, applying to everyone everywhere without exception

Holà

hey, whoa, exclamation to get someone's attention

vénérable

venerable, worthy of deep respect due to age

vieillard

old man, an elderly male person

cheveux

hair, the strands growing on a person's head

blancs

white, the color indicating purity or old age

Te

you, second person singular direct or indirect object

désignent

designate, indicate or point someone out as representative

comme

as, like, in the capacity of, conjunction of comparison

porte

carries, bears; or door; here meaning spokesperson

parole

word, speech, voice; porte-parole means spokesperson

cette

this, feminine singular demonstrative adjective

assemblée

assembly, a gathered group of people meeting together

Explique

explain, imperative form of expliquer, clarify something

moi

me, stressed first person pronoun used after verb

état

state, condition, the current situation of something

âme

soul, the spiritual or emotional inner self

Est

is, third person singular present tense of être

ce

this, it, demonstrative pronoun or adjective

crainte

fear, apprehension, a feeling of dread or anxiety

quelque

some, a certain, a few, indefinite adjective

malheur

misfortune, unhappiness, a terrible event or calamity

qui

who, which, that, relative or interrogative pronoun

anime

animates, drives, motivates or inspires someone

une

a, one, feminine singular indefinite article

faveur

favor, a kind act or benefit asked from another

que

that, which, what, relative pronoun or conjunction

sollicitez

request, solicit; you seek or ask for something

Vous

you, second person plural or formal singular subject

sauriez

would know, conditional of savoir, to know

douter

to doubt, to question the truth of something

mon

my, masculine singular possessive adjective

ardeur

ardor, enthusiasm, passionate eagerness to do something

servir

to serve, to assist or be of use to someone

Je

I, first person singular subject pronoun

serais

would be, first person singular conditional of être

bien

well, very, indeed, adverb of manner or emphasis

impitoyable

merciless, pitiless, showing no compassion or mercy

endurci

hardened, toughened, made insensitive or callous

Si

if, conjunction introducing a conditional clause

repoussais

pushed away, rejected, drove back or repelled someone

tels

such, of this kind, referring to the people described

LE

the, masculine singular definite article in capitals