Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone — Page 6

Vocabulary

roi

A male monarch who rules a kingdom

Phébus

Greek epithet for Apollo, god of light

ordonne

Commands or instructs someone to do something

strictement

In a strict, rigorous, or absolute manner

extirper

To root out or completely eliminate something harmful

souillure

A stain, defilement, or moral corruption

funeste

Causing death, ruin, or terrible misfortune

infeste

Plagues or overruns a place with harmful presence

terre

The earth, ground, or a specific land or country

plus

Means 'more' or, in negation, 'no longer'

abriter

To shelter, harbor, or give refuge to someone

mal

Evil, harm, or something morally or physically bad

invétéré

Deep-rooted, long-established, and resistant to change

ŒDIPE

Oedipus, tragic Greek mythological king of Thebes

expiation

Atonement or act of making amends for wrongdoing

CRÉON

Creon, king of Thebes and Oedipus's brother-in-law

exil

Banishment or forced removal from one's homeland

sang

Blood, either literally or as symbol of violence

versé

Spilled or shed, often referring to blood

tache

A stain, spot, or mark of guilt or shame

sombrer

To sink, collapse, or fall into ruin

État

The state, nation, or organized political community

misérable

A wretched, despicable, or pitiable person

ainsi

In this way, thus, or so

dénoncé

Accused, reported, or publicly denounced as a wrongdoer

Avant

Before in time or order; a temporal preposition

prennes

Subjunctive of 'prendre,' meaning 'take' (you take)

rênes

Reins used to steer a horse; metaphor for power

souverain

A supreme ruler or monarch with ultimate authority

pays

A country, land, or region where people live

Laïos

Laius, the former king of Thebes, Oedipus's father

entendu

Past participle of 'entendre,' meaning 'heard'

dire

To say or tell; infinitive of common speech verb

jamais

Never; used in negation or meaning 'ever' in questions

vu

Past participle of 'voir,' meaning 'seen'

homme

A male human being; a man

tombé

Past participle of 'tomber,' meaning 'fallen' or 'died'

désormais

From now on, henceforth, or from this point forward

ordre

A command, instruction, or directive to be followed

dieu

A god or deity worshipped in a religion

clair

Clear, bright, or easy to understand

Punir

To punish or impose a penalty on someone

meurtriers

Murderers or killers who have taken someone's life

soient

Subjunctive of 'être,' meaning 'may be' or 'are'

Où

Interrogative or relative adverb meaning 'where'

vaste

Vast, enormous, or extremely wide in extent

monde

The world or all of humanity collectively

trouver

To find or discover someone or something

traces

Tracks, traces, or clues left behind by someone

lointaines

Distant, far away, or remote in space or time

ténues

Faint, thin, barely perceptible, or very slight

crime

A serious illegal act punishable by law

passé

The past; a time that has already occurred

cherche

Searches or looks for something; imperative 'search!'

trouvera

Future tense of 'trouver'; 'will find'

reste

Remains, stays, or is left in a place

bras

Arms, the upper limbs of the human body

croisés

Crossed; 'bras croisés' means arms folded, idle

dort

Third person singular of 'dormir,' meaning 'sleeps'

aveugle

Blind; unable to see, literally or figuratively

palais

A palace or grand residence of a ruler

champs

Fields, open countryside, or agricultural land

voyage

A journey or trip to a distant place

lorsque

Conjunction meaning 'when,' at the moment that

rencontra

Simple past of 'rencontrer'; 'met' or 'encountered'

destin

Fate or destiny that determines one's future

Au-dehors

Outside, beyond the interior of a place

parti

Past participle of 'partir'; 'left' or 'departed'

route

A road or path taken to reach a destination

Delphes

Delphi, sacred ancient Greek city of Apollo's oracle

revint

Simple past of 'revenir'; 'came back' or 'returned'

venu

Past participle of 'venir,' meaning 'come'

aucune

No, not any; feminine form of negative adjective

nouvelle

News or a piece of information about recent events

aucun

No, not any; masculine negative adjective or pronoun

compagnon

A companion, fellow traveler, or close associate

donner

To give or provide something to someone

quelque

Some, a few, or a certain unspecified amount

indice

A clue, hint, or sign pointing to something

pût

Imperfect subjunctive of 'pouvoir'; 'could' or 'might'

suivre

To follow, track, or pursue someone or something

seul

Alone, only, or single; without others present

échappa

Simple past of 'échapper'; 'escaped' or 'got away'

fuyant

Fleeing, running away to escape danger

sauver

To save, rescue, or preserve someone from harm

vie

Life, the state of being alive

tout

All, everything, or every part of something

vit

Simple past of 'voir'; third person singular 'saw'

seule

Alone or only; feminine form of 'seul'

chose

A thing, object, or matter of any kind

certitude

Certainty, the state of being absolutely sure

pourrait

Conditional of 'pouvoir'; 'could' or 'might'

mener

To lead, bring, or guide toward a destination

loin

Far away, at a great distance

seulement

Only, merely, or just a limited amount

étincelle

A spark, tiny flash of light or hope

espoir

Hope, a feeling that something good may happen

guider

To guide, direct, or show the way to someone

quête

A quest or search for something important

brigands

Bandits or armed robbers who attack travelers

bandit

A criminal outlaw who commits robbery or violence

troupe

A group, band, or company of people together

malfaiteurs

Wrongdoers, criminals, or evildoers who commit crimes

attaqua

Simple past of 'attaquer'; 'attacked' violently

tua

Simple past of 'tuer'; 'killed' someone