The Angel in the House — Page 7

Vocabulary

Y

Pronoun meaning 'there' or 'to it'

être

To be; fundamental linking or auxiliary verb

comme

As, like; used for comparison or manner

un

Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'

ami

Friend; a close companion or acquaintance

puisque

Since, because; introduces a causal clause

davantage

More, further; indicating a greater degree or amount

Semblait

Seemed; past tense of 'sembler' (to seem)

alors

Then, at that time; also used as 'so'

semble

Seems; present tense of 'sembler' (to seem)

encore

Still, yet, again; indicating continuation or repetition

excuse

Excuse; justification or apology for an action

à

To, at, in; versatile preposition of location or direction

la

The; feminine definite article in French

fierté

Pride; feeling of satisfaction or self-respect

Pour

For, in order to; preposition expressing purpose or destination

quelque

Some, a few; indefinite adjective indicating an unspecified amount

chose

Thing; a general noun for an object or matter

qui

Who, which, that; relative or interrogative pronoun

demeurait

Remained, dwelt; imperfect tense of 'demeurer'

doué

Gifted, talented; possessing a natural ability or skill

D'

Contraction of 'de' before a vowel; of, from

repos

Rest, repose; state of relaxation or tranquility

semblable

Similar, alike; resembling something or someone else

celui

That one, the one; demonstrative pronoun (masculine)

d'

Contraction of 'de' before a vowel; of, from

temple

Temple; sacred building dedicated to worship or reverence

air

Air, appearance; also means tune or atmosphere

De

Of, from; preposition indicating origin or possession

bienveillants

Benevolent, kind; showing goodwill and friendly intentions

desseins

Designs, intentions; planned purposes or schemes

de

Of, from; common preposition of possession or origin

vie

Life; the state of being alive or existence

poursuivis

Pursued; past participle of 'poursuivre' (to pursue)

Avec

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or manner

une

A, an; feminine indefinite article in French

liberté

Liberty, freedom; state of being free from constraint

ordonnée

Ordered, organized; structured in a neat or methodical way

douce

Sweet, gentle, soft; agreeable and mild in nature

et

And; conjunction joining words, phrases, or clauses

belle

Beautiful; feminine adjective describing great beauty

Une

A, an; feminine indefinite article in French

tente

Tent; a portable shelter made of fabric or canvas

dressée

Set up, erected; past participle of 'dresser'

dans

In, inside; preposition indicating location within something

monde

World; the earth or a social sphere of people

imparfait

Imperfect, flawed; not fully complete or without defect

Il

He, it; third-person masculine singular subject pronoun

semblait

Seemed; imperfect tense of 'sembler' (to seem)

dont

Whose, of which; relative pronoun indicating possession or reference

les

The; plural definite article for masculine and feminine nouns

habitants

Inhabitants, residents; people living in a particular place

chacun

Each one, everyone; indefinite pronoun referring to each individual

Sur

On, upon; preposition indicating position on a surface

des

Some, of the; plural indefinite article or partitive

visages

Faces; the front parts of a person's head

tranquilles

Calm, tranquil; quiet and free from disturbance

portaient

Were carrying, bore; imperfect of 'porter' (to carry)

lumière

Light; visible illumination or radiance

devoirs

Duties, homework; obligations or responsibilities one must fulfill

accomplis

Accomplished, fulfilled; past participle of 'accomplir'

avec

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or manner

beauté

Beauty; quality of being visually or aesthetically pleasing

Et

And; conjunction joining words, phrases, or clauses

humblement

Humbly; in a modest and unassuming manner

bien

Well, good; adverb indicating something done correctly

qu'

That, than; conjunction or relative pronoun before vowel

ils

They; third-person masculine plural subject pronoun

eussent

Had; past subjunctive of 'avoir' used in formal writing

peu

Little, few; indicating a small amount or degree

égaux

Equal; plural adjective meaning of the same status

Gardaient

Were keeping, guarding; imperfect of 'garder' (to keep)

leurs

Their; plural possessive adjective indicating ownership

propres

Own, clean; adjective meaning belonging to oneself or neat

lois

Laws; rules established by authority or custom

semblaient

Seemed; third-person plural imperfect of 'sembler'

Le

The; masculine singular definite article in French

beau

Beautiful, fine; masculine adjective expressing beauty

résumé

Summary, résumé; a brief account or condensed version

six

Six; the cardinal number following five

mille

Thousand; the cardinal number equal to one thousand

années

Years; plural of 'année' (year), units of time

Traditions

Traditions; customs passed down through generations

civilité

Civility; polite and courteous behavior toward others

CHANT

Song, canto; a sung piece or section of a poem

PRÉLUDES

Preludes; introductory musical or literary pieces

Parangon

Paragon; a model of excellence or supreme example

QUAND

When; conjunction or adverb of time

je

I; first-person singular subject pronoun

contemple

Contemplate, gaze upon; to look at thoughtfully and intently

cieux

Heavens, skies; plural of 'ciel', poetic word for sky

en

In, on, by; versatile preposition or adverbial pronoun

hauteur

Height, haughtiness; elevation or an attitude of superiority

Surpassant

Surpassing, exceeding; going beyond in quality or degree

pompe

Pomp, grandeur; ceremonial display or splendid magnificence

rêves

Dreams; images or thoughts experienced during sleep or imagined

nuage

Cloud; a mass of water vapor visible in the sky

le

The; masculine singular definite article in French

sein

Bosom, breast; also used metaphorically meaning 'within'

doux

Sweet, gentle, soft; mild and pleasant in nature

cygne

Swan; a large graceful white water bird

Semble

Seems; third-person singular present of 'sembler'

couche

Layer, bed, lies down; resting place or stratum

pour

For, in order to; preposition expressing purpose or destination

nuptiale

Nuptial; relating to marriage or a wedding ceremony

L'

The; definite article contracted before a vowel

océan

Ocean; the vast body of salt water covering the earth

immense

Immense, vast; extremely large in size or extent

montagnes

Mountains; large natural elevations of the earth's surface

lumineuses

Luminous, bright; radiating or reflecting light beautifully

Les

The; plural definite article for all genders

vallées

Valleys; low areas of land between hills or mountains

ombreuses

Shady, shadowy; providing or filled with shade

troupeaux

Herds, flocks; groups of animals grazing together

paissent

Graze; third-person plural present of 'paître'

Je

I; first-person singular subject pronoun

frappe

Strike, hit; to hit or play an instrument forcefully

ma

My; first-person singular feminine possessive adjective

lyre

Lyre; ancient stringed musical instrument associated with poetry

musique

Music; the art of organizing sounds into pleasing compositions

Sans

Without; preposition indicating absence or lack of something

manquer

To miss, lack; to be absent or fail to find

mots

Words; units of language used in speech or writing

conviennent

Suit, are appropriate; third-person plural present of 'convenir'

justement

Exactly, precisely; in a just or fitting manner

Toutes

All; feminine plural form of 'tout' (all, every)

forces

Forces, strengths; powers or energies driving action

mer

Sea; a large body of salt water

l'

The; definite article contracted before a vowel

Tous

All, every; masculine plural form indicating entirety

attraits

Charms, attractions; appealing qualities that draw attention

colline

Hill; a naturally raised area of land, smaller than a mountain

plaine

Plain; a large area of flat, treeless land

puis

Then, next; adverb indicating sequence or continuation

ainsi

Thus, so, in this way; adverb of manner or consequence

chanter

To sing; to produce musical sounds with the voice

belles

Beautiful; feminine plural adjective expressing beauty

saisons

Seasons; the four divisions of the year

Que

That, which, than; conjunction or relative pronoun

a

Has; third-person singular present of 'avoir' (to have)

ressenti

Felt; past participle of 'ressentir' (to feel deeply)

peut

Can, may; third-person singular present of 'pouvoir'

ressentir

To feel deeply; to experience a strong emotion or sensation

Souvent

Often, frequently; happening many times or regularly

exalté

Exalted, elated; filled with intense joy or enthusiasm

par

By, through, per; preposition indicating means or agent

tels

Such; masculine plural adjective meaning of this kind

chants

Songs, chants; musical vocal pieces or poems sung aloud

libres

Free; plural adjective meaning unrestrained or unconstrained

pense

Think; first-person singular present of 'penser'

élever

To raise, elevate; to lift up or bring to a higher level

parole

Word, speech; spoken language or a lyric line

libre

Free; unrestrained, not confined or controlled

Cet

This; masculine demonstrative adjective before a vowel

hymne

Hymn; a song of praise, often religious or celebratory

après

After; preposition or adverb indicating later time

lequel

Which, whom; relative pronoun used after prepositions

entier

Entire, whole; complete and not divided or diminished

soupire

Sighs; third-person singular present of 'soupirer'

Un

A, one; masculine indefinite article or cardinal number

digne

Worthy, dignified; deserving respect or recognition

louange

Praise; an expression of admiration or commendation

femme

Woman, wife; an adult female person

aux

To the, at the; contraction of 'à' and 'les'

notes

Notes; musical tones or short written remarks

vives

Lively, vivid; bright and energetic in quality

oiseau

Bird; a feathered, winged animal capable of flight

Éveillant

Awakening, arousing; present participle of 'éveiller'

ces

These, those; plural demonstrative adjective

temps

Time, times, weather; a fundamental concept of duration

engourdis

Numbed, sluggish; made dull or unresponsive over time

chant

Song, singing; the act of vocal musical expression

rhapsodies

Rhapsodies; enthusiastic or ecstatic musical or literary pieces

parfaits

Perfect; masculine plural adjective meaning without flaw

Régis

Ruled, governed; past participle of 'régir' or a proper name

baiser

Kiss; a touch with the lips as a gesture of affection

récurrent

Recurrent; occurring repeatedly or returning at intervals

rimes

Rhymes; corresponding sounds at the end of verse lines