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Sense and Sensibility — Page 1

English → Fr CHAPTER I. Level 7/10

The family of Dashwood had long been settled in Sussex.

La famille Dashwood était établie depuis longtemps dans le Sussex.

Their estate was large, and their residence was at Norland Park, in the centre of their property, where, for many generations, they had lived in so respectable a manner as to engage the general good opinion of their surrounding acquaintance.

Leur domaine était vaste, et leur résidence se trouvait à Norland Park, au centre de leur propriété, où, depuis de nombreuses générations, ils avaient vécu d'une manière si respectable qu'ils s'étaient attiré l'estime générale de leurs voisins et relations.

The late owner of this estate was a single man, who lived to a very advanced age, and who for many years of his life, had a constant companion and housekeeper in his sister.

Le dernier propriétaire de ce domaine était un homme célibataire, qui vécut jusqu'à un âge très avancé, et qui, pendant de nombreuses années de sa vie, avait trouvé en sa sœur une compagne et gouvernante dévouée.

But her death, which happened ten years before his own, produced a great alteration in his home; for to supply her loss, he invited and received into his house the family of his nephew Mr. Henry Dashwood, the legal inheritor of the Norland estate, and the person to whom he intended to bequeath it.

Mais sa mort, survenue dix ans avant la sienne, produisit un grand changement dans sa demeure ; car pour compenser cette perte, il invita et accueillit chez lui la famille de son neveu M. Henry Dashwood, l'héritier légal du domaine de Norland, et la personne à qui il avait l'intention de le léguer.

In the society of his nephew and niece, and their children, the old Gentleman's days were comfortably spent.

En compagnie de son neveu et de sa nièce, et de leurs enfants, le vieil homme passa ses jours agréablement.

His attachment to them all increased.

Son attachement pour eux ne fit que croître.

The constant attention of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dashwood to his wishes, which proceeded not merely from interest, but from goodness of heart, gave him every degree of solid comfort which his age could receive; and the cheerfulness of the children added a relish to his existence.

L'attention constante de M. et Mme Henry Dashwood à l'égard de ses souhaits, qui ne procédait pas seulement de l'intérêt, mais de la bonté du cœur, lui procurait tout le confort solide que son âge pouvait recevoir ; et la gaieté des enfants ajoutait un charme à son existence.

By a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one son: by his present lady, three daughters.

D'un premier mariage, M. Henry Dashwood avait eu un fils : de sa femme actuelle, trois filles.

Vocabulary

famille
A group of related people living together
était
Past tense of 'être'; was or were
établie
Settled or established in a particular place
depuis
Since or for a period of time
longtemps
For a long period of time
dans
Preposition indicating location inside something
Leur
Possessive pronoun or adjective meaning 'their'
domaine
An estate or area of land one owns
vaste
Very large in extent or size
résidence
A place where someone lives permanently
trouvait
Imperfect tense of 'trouver'; was located
centre
The middle point or area of something
propriété
Land or buildings owned by someone
Relative or interrogative adverb meaning 'where'
nombreuses
Adjective meaning many or numerous
générations
Groups of people born around the same time
avaient
Past tense of 'avoir'; had (plural)
vécu
Past participle of 'vivre'; having lived
manière
A way or style of doing something
si
Adverb meaning 'so' or 'such' in degree
respectable
Worthy of respect and social admiration
étaient
Imperfect plural of 'être'; they were
attiré
Past participle of 'attirer'; attracted or drawn
estime
Regard or respect held for someone
générale
Widespread or common among many people
leurs
Plural possessive adjective meaning 'their'
voisins
People who live nearby or next door
relations
People one knows socially or professionally
dernier
Adjective meaning last or most recent
propriétaire
A person who owns property or land
homme
An adult male person; a man
célibataire
An unmarried person; a bachelor or single person
vécut
Simple past of 'vivre'; lived (singular)
jusqu'
Preposition meaning 'until' or 'up to'
âge
The number of years a person has lived
très
Adverb meaning 'very' intensifying an adjective
avancé
Advanced or progressed, often referring to age
pendant
Preposition meaning 'during' or 'for' a period
années
Plural of 'année'; years as a duration
vie
The period from birth to death; life
trouvé
Past participle of 'trouver'; found or discovered
sœur
A female sibling; a sister
compagne
A female companion or partner in life
gouvernante
A woman employed to manage a household
dévouée
Deeply dedicated or loyal to someone
Mais
Coordinating conjunction meaning 'but'
mort
The end of life; death
survenue
Past participle of 'survenir'; having occurred suddenly
dix
The number ten
ans
Years, used when counting age or duration
avant
Preposition meaning 'before' in time or order
sienne
Feminine possessive pronoun meaning 'his' or 'hers'
produisit
Simple past of 'produire'; caused or brought about
grand
Adjective meaning great or large in importance
changement
An alteration or transformation in something
demeure
A place of residence; a dwelling or home
car
Conjunction meaning 'because' or 'for'
compenser
To make up for or offset a loss
perte
The fact of losing something or someone
invita
Simple past of 'inviter'; invited someone over
accueillit
Simple past of 'accueillir'; welcomed into one's home
chez
Preposition meaning 'at the home of'
neveu
The son of one's brother or sister
M.
Abbreviation for 'Monsieur'; Mr. in English
héritier
A person legally entitled to inherit property
légal
Relating to or permitted by law
personne
An individual human being; a person
intention
A plan or aim to do something
léguer
To leave property to someone in a will
compagnie
The presence of others; companionship or company
nièce
The daughter of one's brother or sister
enfants
Young people; children of any age
vieil
Masculine adjective form of 'vieux' meaning old
passa
Simple past of 'passer'; spent time doing something
jours
Plural of 'jour'; days of one's life
agréablement
In a pleasant or enjoyable manner
attachement
A strong feeling of affection toward someone
eux
Stressed third person plural pronoun meaning 'them'
fit
Simple past of 'faire'; did or made something
croître
To grow or increase over time
attention
Careful thought or consideration given to something
constante
Remaining the same without change; constant
Mme
Abbreviation for 'Madame'; Mrs. or Ms. in English
égard
Consideration or respect shown toward someone
souhaits
Wishes or desires one hopes to fulfill
procédait
Imperfect of 'procéder'; originated or stemmed from
seulement
Adverb meaning 'only' or 'merely'
intérêt
Personal benefit or self-serving motivation
mais
Coordinating conjunction meaning 'but'
bonté
The quality of being kind and generous
cœur
The heart, symbolizing emotions and feelings
procurait
Imperfect of 'procurer'; provided or obtained for someone
tout
Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' or 'every'
confort
A state of physical ease and wellbeing
solide
Firm, strong, or reliable in nature
pouvait
Imperfect of 'pouvoir'; was able to do
recevoir
To receive or welcome guests into one's home
gaieté
A feeling of lighthearted joy and cheerfulness
ajoutait
Imperfect of 'ajouter'; was adding to something
charme
The quality of being attractive or delightful
existence
The state of living or being alive
premier
Ordinal adjective meaning 'first' in sequence
mariage
The legal union of two people as spouses
eu
Past participle of 'avoir'; had (something)
fils
A male child in relation to his parents
femme
A woman or a wife in French
actuelle
Adjective meaning current or present at this time
trois
The number three
filles
Female children or daughters of a family
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