The Adventures of Roderick Random — Page 4

Vocabulary

Cependant

However; nevertheless; used to introduce a contrast

il

He; third-person singular masculine pronoun

n'

Contracted negation particle used before vowels

hésita

Hesitated; past tense of hésiter

pas

Not; negation particle used with ne

longtemps

For a long time; a lengthy duration

car

Because; for; introducing a reason or explanation

connaissant

Knowing; present participle of connaître

parfaitement

Perfectly; completely; in a perfect manner

le

The; definite masculine singular article

caractère

Character; nature; personality of a person

de

Of; from; preposition indicating possession or origin

son

His; her; its; possessive adjective singular

père

Father; male parent

ne

Not; first part of French negation construction

doutait

Doubted; past imperfect of douter

que

That; conjunction introducing a subordinate clause

celui-

That one; demonstrative pronoun referring to a person

ci

Here; this; used with demonstrative pronouns

fût

Was; past subjunctive of être

heureux

Happy; glad; pleased about something

ce

This; that; demonstrative adjective or pronoun

prétexte

Pretext; excuse; false justification for an action

pour

For; in order to; preposition of purpose

se

Himself; herself; reflexive pronoun third person

débarrasser

To get rid of; to free oneself from something

lui

Him; her; indirect object or stressed pronoun

et

And; coordinating conjunction joining elements

ses

His; her; its; plural possessive adjective

résolutions

Resolutions; decisions firmly made by someone

étant

Being; present participle of être

aussi

Also; as; equally; used in comparisons or additions

immuables

Immutable; unchangeable; fixed and unalterable

les

The; definite plural article for all genders

lois

Laws; rules established by authority

des

Of the; partitive or plural indefinite article

savait

Knew; past imperfect of savoir

qu'

That; contracted form of que before vowel

serait

Would be; conditional tense of être

inutile

Useless; pointless; serving no purpose

tenter

To attempt; to try; to make an effort

fléchir

To bend; to soften; to persuade someone resistant

par

By; through; by means of something

prières

Prayers; entreaties; earnest requests or pleas

supplications

Supplications; humble begging; earnest imploring

ainsi

Thus; so; in this way or manner

sans

Without; lacking; preposition indicating absence

autre

Other; another; different from what is mentioned

tentative

Attempt; try; an effort to do something

retira

Withdrew; retreated; past tense of se retirer

avec

With; together with; in the company of

sa

His; her; its; feminine singular possessive adjective

désolée

Devastated; heartbroken; extremely sorry or distressed

compagne

Companion; female partner or female associate

lit

Bed; a piece of furniture for sleeping

dans

In; inside; within a place or time frame

une

A; an; indefinite feminine singular article

ferme

Farm; rural property used for agriculture

où

Where; relative or interrogative adverb of place

demeurait

Lived; resided; past imperfect of demeurer

vieille

Old; elderly; feminine adjective indicating age

servante

Servant; maidservant; female domestic worker

mère

Mother; female parent

ils

They; third-person masculine plural pronoun

y

There; adverbial pronoun referring to a place

demeurèrent

Stayed; remained; simple past of demeurer

quelque

Some; a few; an unspecified amount or duration

temps

Time; weather; a period or duration

situation

Situation; circumstances; state of affairs

peu

Little; few; a small amount or degree

adaptée

Adapted; suited; appropriate for a particular purpose

à

To; at; in; preposition of direction or location

l'

The; contracted definite article before vowel

élégance

Elegance; refinement; graceful style or manner

leurs

Their; plural possessive adjective for third person

désirs

Desires; wishes; things longed for or wanted

la

The; definite feminine singular article

tendresse

Tenderness; affection; gentle warmth toward someone

leur

Their; them; possessive or indirect object pronoun

amour

Love; deep affection between people

mon

My; masculine singular first-person possessive adjective

choisit

Chose; chose; simple past of choisir

néanmoins

Nevertheless; nonetheless; in spite of that

d'

Of; from; contracted preposition before vowel

endurer

To endure; to bear; to suffer through hardship

plutôt

Rather; instead; preferably over another option

supplier

To beg; to implore; to plead desperately with someone

un

A; an; indefinite masculine singular article

parent

Parent; relative; a family member

dénaturé

Unnatural; cruel; depraved parent or relative

inflexible

Inflexible; unyielding; refusing to change one's mind

mais

But; however; coordinating conjunction of contrast

ma

My; feminine singular first-person possessive adjective

prévoyant

Foreseeing; anticipating; present participle of prévoir

inconvénients

Inconveniences; drawbacks; disadvantages of a situation

auxquels

To which; to whom; relative pronoun masculine plural

elle

She; her; third-person feminine singular pronoun

aurait

Would have; conditional tense of avoir

été

Been; past participle of être

exposée

Exposed; subjected; made vulnerable to something harmful

si

If; whether; conditional conjunction

avait

Had; past imperfect of avoir

accouché

Given birth; delivered a baby

en

In; at; by; preposition of location or manner

lieu

Place; location; spot where something occurs

grossesse

Pregnancy; the state of carrying an unborn child

très

Very; extremely; intensifying adverb

avancée

Advanced; far along; progressed to a late stage

communiquer

To communicate; to share information with someone

dessein

Design; plan; intention; a purposeful scheme

mari

Husband; a married man; male spouse

rendit

Went; rendered; simple past of se rendre

déguisée

Disguised; dressed to conceal one's true identity

maison

House; home; a place of residence

grand-

Grand-; prefix indicating grandparent relation

espérant

Hoping; present participle of espérer

larmes

Tears; drops of liquid shed from crying

état

State; condition; current situation of something

toucheraient

Would touch; conditional of toucher; would move emotionally

compassion

Compassion; sympathy; deep concern for others' suffering

réconcilieraient

Would reconcile; conditional of réconcilier

événement

Event; occurrence; something that has taken place

désormais

Henceforth; from now on; from this point forward

irrévocablement

Irrevocably; permanently; in a way that cannot be undone

accompli

Accomplished; done; completed; an achieved fact

Elle

She; third-person feminine singular pronoun

trouva

Found; discovered; simple past of trouver

moyen

Means; way; a method to achieve something

tromper

To deceive; to trick; to mislead someone

domestiques

Servants; domestic staff; household employees

faire

To do; to make; versatile verb of action

introduire

To introduce; to bring in; to gain entry somewhere

comme

As; like; in the manner of; used for comparison

malheureuse

Unhappy; unfortunate; wretched; a miserable woman

dame

Lady; woman; a respectful term for a woman

qui

Who; which; that; relative or interrogative pronoun

souhaitait

Wished; desired; past imperfect of souhaiter

plaindre

To complain; to pity; to voice grievances

certains

Certain; some; particular unspecified ones

griefs

Grievances; complaints; causes of distress or resentment

matrimoniaux

Matrimonial; relating to marriage or marital affairs

compétence

Competence; jurisdiction; authority to decide matters

particulière

Particular; special; specific; of special note

trancher

To settle; to cut; to resolve a matter decisively

tous

All; every; each; plural masculine adjective or pronoun

cas

Cases; instances; situations requiring consideration

scandale

Scandal; disgraceful event causing public outrage