Sense and Sensibility — Page 4

English → Fr CHAPTER I. Level 7/10

But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was his only one twelvemonth.

Mais la fortune, qui avait été si longtemps à venir, ne lui appartint qu'un an.

He survived his uncle no longer; and ten thousand pounds, including the late legacies, was all that remained for his widow and daughters.

Il ne survécut pas davantage à son oncle ; et dix mille livres, legs récents compris, c'était tout ce qui restait pour sa veuve et ses filles.

His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known, and to him Mr. Dashwood recommended, with all the strength and urgency which illness could command, the interest of his mother-in-law and sisters.

On fit appeler son fils dès que son état fut reconnu dangereux, et M. Dashwood lui recommanda, avec toute la force et l'insistance que la maladie pouvait lui permettre, de veiller aux intérêts de sa belle-mère et de ses sœurs.

Mr. John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the family; but he was affected by a recommendation of such a nature at such a time, and he promised to do every thing in his power to make them comfortable.

M. John Dashwood n'avait pas les sentiments vifs du reste de la famille ; mais il fut touché d'une recommandation de cette nature faite en un tel moment, et il promit de faire tout ce qui serait en son pouvoir pour assurer leur bien-être.

His father was rendered easy by such an assurance, and Mr. John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how much there might prudently be in his power to do for them.

Son père fut rassuré par cette promesse, et M. John Dashwood eut alors le loisir de réfléchir à ce qu'il pourrait prudemment faire pour elles.

He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed: but he was, in general, well respected; for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge of his ordinary duties.

Ce n'était pas un jeune homme mal intentionné, à moins que d'être assez froid de cœur et assez égoïste ne soit être mal intentionné : mais il était, en général, fort respecté ; car il se conduisait convenablement dans l'accomplissement de ses devoirs ordinaires.

Had he married a more amiable woman, he might have been made still more respectable than he was:—he might even have been made amiable himself; for he was very young when he married, and very fond of his wife.

S'il avait épousé une femme plus aimable, il aurait pu devenir encore plus estimable qu'il ne l'était : il aurait pu même devenir aimable lui-même ; car il était très jeune quand il se maria, et très attaché à sa femme.

But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself;—more narrow-minded and selfish.

Mais Mme John Dashwood était une caricature poussée de lui-même ; plus étroite d'esprit et plus égoïste.

Vocabulary

Mais: Conjunction meaning 'but', used to contrast ideas.
la: Definite article 'the' for feminine singular nouns.
fortune: Wealth or large sum of money accumulated over time.
qui: Relative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which'.
avait: Imperfect tense of 'avoir'; 'had' as auxiliary verb.
été: Past participle of 'être'; meaning 'been'.
si: Adverb meaning 'so' or 'such', intensifying adjectives.
longtemps: Adverb meaning 'for a long time'.
à: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
venir: Infinitive verb meaning 'to come'.
ne: Negative particle used with 'pas' to negate verbs.
lui: Personal pronoun meaning 'him', 'her', or 'to him/her'.
appartint: Past historic of 'appartenir'; belonged to someone.
qu': Shortened form of 'que'; 'that' or 'only' in context.
un: Indefinite article or number meaning 'a' or 'one'.
an: Noun meaning 'year', used to count years.
Il: Subject pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
survécut: Past historic of 'survivre'; survived or outlived someone.
pas: Negation word used with 'ne' to mean 'not'.
davantage: Adverb meaning 'more' or 'any longer'.
son: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
oncle: Noun meaning 'uncle', a family member.
et: Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses.
dix: Number meaning 'ten'.
mille: Number meaning 'thousand'.
livres: Plural noun meaning 'pounds', a unit of currency.
legs: Noun meaning 'bequest' or 'legacy' left in a will.
récents: Adjective meaning 'recent', describing something newly acquired.
compris: Past participle of 'comprendre'; here meaning 'included'.
c': Contracted form of 'ce'; demonstrative pronoun 'it' or 'this'.
était: Imperfect tense of 'être'; meaning 'was' or 'were'.
tout: Pronoun or adjective meaning 'all', 'everything', or 'whole'.
ce: Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this' or 'that'.
restait: Imperfect of 'rester'; meaning 'remained' or 'was left'.
pour: Preposition meaning 'for' indicating purpose or benefit.
sa: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (feminine).
veuve: Noun meaning 'widow', a woman whose husband has died.
ses: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (plural).
filles: Plural noun meaning 'daughters' or 'girls'.
On: Indefinite pronoun meaning 'one', 'we', 'they', or 'people'.
fit: Past historic of 'faire'; meaning 'made' or 'had someone do'.
appeler: Infinitive meaning 'to call' or 'to send for someone'.
fils: Noun meaning 'son', a male child.
dès: Preposition meaning 'as soon as' or 'from' a moment.
que: Conjunction meaning 'that', 'when', or 'as soon as'.
état: Noun meaning 'state' or 'condition' of health or affairs.
fut: Past historic of 'être'; meaning 'was'.
reconnu: Past participle of 'reconnaître'; meaning 'recognized' or 'acknowledged'.
dangereux: Adjective meaning 'dangerous' or 'critical' in condition.
M.: Abbreviation of 'Monsieur'; meaning 'Mr.' as a title.
recommanda: Past historic of 'recommander'; urged or recommended earnestly.
avec: Preposition meaning 'with'.
toute: Feminine form of 'tout'; meaning 'all' or 'every'.
force: Noun meaning 'force', 'strength', or 'emphasis'.
l': Contracted definite article 'le' or 'la' before a vowel.
insistance: Noun meaning 'insistence' or 'persistence' in urging something.
maladie: Noun meaning 'illness' or 'disease'.
pouvait: Imperfect of 'pouvoir'; meaning 'could' or 'was able to'.
permettre: Infinitive meaning 'to allow' or 'to permit'.
de: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'to' in various contexts.
veiller: Infinitive meaning 'to watch over' or 'to look after'.
aux: Contraction of 'à les'; meaning 'to the' (plural).
intérêts: Plural noun meaning 'interests' or 'welfare' of someone.
belle-mère: Noun meaning 'stepmother' or 'mother-in-law'.
sœurs: Plural noun meaning 'sisters'.
n': Contracted negative particle 'ne' used before vowels.
les: Definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'them' (plural).
sentiments: Plural noun meaning 'feelings' or 'emotions'.
vifs: Adjective meaning 'lively', 'keen', or 'strong' in feeling.
du: Contraction of 'de le'; meaning 'of the' or 'from the'.
reste: Noun meaning 'rest' or 'remainder' of a group.
famille: Noun meaning 'family'.
mais: Conjunction meaning 'but', introducing a contrast.
il: Subject pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
touché: Past participle of 'toucher'; moved or affected emotionally.
d': Contracted form of 'de' before a vowel; meaning 'of' or 'by'.
une: Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
recommandation: Noun meaning 'recommendation' or 'earnest request' to someone.
cette: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' or 'that' (feminine).
nature: Noun meaning 'nature' or 'kind', referring to type or character.
faite: Feminine past participle of 'faire'; meaning 'made' or 'given'.
en: Preposition meaning 'in', 'at', or 'during'.
tel: Adjective meaning 'such' or 'such a', intensifying a noun.
moment: Noun meaning 'moment' or 'point in time'.
promit: Past historic of 'promettre'; meaning 'promised'.
faire: Infinitive meaning 'to do' or 'to make'.
serait: Conditional of 'être'; meaning 'would be'.
pouvoir: Infinitive meaning 'to be able to' or 'can'.
assurer: Infinitive meaning 'to ensure' or 'to guarantee' something.
leur: Possessive adjective or pronoun meaning 'their' or 'to them'.
bien-être: Noun meaning 'well-being' or 'welfare'.
Son: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
père: Noun meaning 'father'.
rassuré: Past participle of 'rassurer'; meaning 'reassured' or 'comforted'.
par: Preposition meaning 'by' or 'through'.
promesse: Noun meaning 'promise' or 'commitment' made to someone.
eut: Past historic of 'avoir'; meaning 'had'.
alors: Adverb meaning 'then' or 'at that moment'.
le: Definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'him/it'.
loisir: Noun meaning 'leisure' or 'opportunity' to do something.
réfléchir: Infinitive meaning 'to reflect' or 'to think carefully'.
pourrait: Conditional of 'pouvoir'; meaning 'could' or 'would be able'.
prudemment: Adverb meaning 'prudently' or 'wisely'.
elles: Subject pronoun meaning 'they' (feminine plural).
Ce: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' or 'that' (masculine).
jeune: Adjective meaning 'young'.
homme: Noun meaning 'man'.
mal: Adverb or noun meaning 'badly' or 'evil', 'harm'.
intentionné: Adjective meaning 'intentioned'; here 'mal intentionné' means ill-intentioned.
moins: Adverb meaning 'less' used in comparisons.
être: Infinitive meaning 'to be'.
assez: Adverb meaning 'enough' or 'rather', indicating sufficiency.
froid: Adjective meaning 'cold', here used figuratively as emotionally cold.
cœur: Noun meaning 'heart', used literally or emotionally.
égoïste: Adjective or noun meaning 'selfish' or 'egotistical'.
soit: Subjunctive of 'être'; meaning 'may be' or 'whether'.
général: Adjective meaning 'general' or 'overall', in most cases.
fort: Adverb or adjective meaning 'very', 'strong', or 'greatly'.
respecté: Past participle of 'respecter'; meaning 'respected' by others.
car: Conjunction meaning 'because' or 'for', giving a reason.
se: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself', 'herself', or 'themselves'.
conduisait: Imperfect of 'se conduire'; meaning 'behaved' or 'conducted himself'.
convenablement: Adverb meaning 'properly' or 'appropriately' in behavior.
dans: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'within'.
accomplissement: Noun meaning 'fulfillment' or 'performance' of duties.
devoirs: Plural noun meaning 'duties', 'obligations', or 'homework'.
ordinaires: Adjective meaning 'ordinary' or 'usual'.
S': Contracted reflexive pronoun 'se' before a vowel.
épousé: Past participle of 'épouser'; meaning 'married' someone.
femme: Noun meaning 'woman' or 'wife'.
plus: Adverb meaning 'more' or 'no longer' in negative contexts.
aimable: Adjective meaning 'kind', 'amiable', or 'pleasant in manner'.
aurait: Conditional of 'avoir'; meaning 'would have'.
pu: Past participle of 'pouvoir'; meaning 'been able to'.
devenir: Infinitive meaning 'to become'.
encore: Adverb meaning 'still', 'yet', or 'even more'.
estimable: Adjective meaning 'estimable' or 'worthy of respect'.
même: Adverb or adjective meaning 'even', 'same', or 'itself'.
lui-même: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself', emphasizing the subject.
très: Adverb meaning 'very', intensifying adjectives or adverbs.
quand: Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'.
maria: Past historic of 'se marier'; meaning 'married' or 'got married'.
attaché: Past participle of 'attacher'; meaning 'attached' or 'devoted to'.
Mme: Abbreviation of 'Madame'; meaning 'Mrs.' as a title.
caricature: Noun meaning 'caricature', an exaggerated or distorted representation.
poussée: Adjective or noun meaning 'extreme' or 'carried to excess'.
étroite: Adjective meaning 'narrow' or 'limited', as in narrow-minded.
esprit: Noun meaning 'mind', 'spirit', or 'wit'.

← Previous Next →

Unlock audio playback, vocabulary games, and reading progress tracking.

Create free account →