The divine comedy — Page 1

Vocabulary

jour

Day; a period of twenty-four hours

maintenant

Now; at the present time

s'en

Reflexive pronoun phrase meaning 'of it' or 'away'

allait

Was going; imperfect tense of 'aller'

l'air

The air; atmosphere or appearance of something

Obscurci

Darkened or obscured; made dim or unclear

ombres

Shadows or shades; areas of darkness

délivrait

Was delivering or freeing; imperfect of 'délivrer'

peines

Sorrows, pains, or troubles; hardships endured

Toutes

All; feminine plural form of 'tout'

créatures

Creatures; living beings or created entities

terre

Earth or ground; the world we live on

seul

Alone or only; without others present

préparais

Was preparing; imperfect tense of 'préparer'

soutenir

To sustain or endure; to hold up against something

combat

Combat or fight; a struggle or battle

triste

Sad or sorrowful; feeling or expressing sadness

pitié

Pity or compassion; sympathy for another's suffering

chemin

Path or road; a way or route to follow

périlleux

Perilous or dangerous; full of risk or hazard

mémoire

Memory; the ability to recall past experiences

fidèle

Faithful or loyal; reliably true and accurate

retracera

Will retrace or recount; future tense of 'retracer'

Ô

Oh; poetic exclamation used to address someone

Muses

Muses; goddesses of artistic and literary inspiration

sublime

Sublime or lofty; of the most elevated quality

génie

Genius; exceptional intellectual or creative power

daignez

Deign or condescend; please graciously agree to do

M'accorder

To grant or give me; to bestow upon the speaker

aide

Help or assistance; support given to another

conservé

Preserved or kept; maintained intact over time

Fidèlement

Faithfully or accurately; in a loyal true manner

écrit

Written text or writing; something set down in writing

tout

All or everything; totality of something

vu

Seen; past participle of 'voir'

ici

Here; in this place or location

valeur

Worth or valor; merit, value, or courageous quality

éminentes

Eminent or distinguished; of notable excellence or rank

qualités

Qualities or virtues; positive characteristics of a person

seront

Will be; future tense of 'être'

mises

Put or placed; feminine plural past participle of 'mettre'

épreuve

Test or trial; a challenge used to prove ability

commençai

Began; first-person simple past of 'commencer'

ainsi

Thus or so; in this way or manner

Poète

Poet; a person who writes or composes poetry

guide

Guide; a person who leads or directs another

Considère

Consider; imperative of 'considérer', meaning reflect carefully

bien

Well or carefully; in a good or thorough manner

vertu

Virtue; moral excellence or goodness of character

suffisante

Sufficient or enough; adequate for a particular purpose

avant

Before; indicating priority in time or order

confier

To entrust or confide; to give something into care

haute

High or lofty; of great elevation or importance

entreprise

Enterprise or undertaking; a bold ambitious project

dit

Said; third-person simple past of 'dire'

père

Father; a male parent or paternal figure

Encore

Still or yet; continuing at this point in time

revêtu

Clothed or clad; wearing or covered with something

chair

Flesh; the physical body or mortal human nature

corruptible

Corruptible; capable of decay or moral deterioration

parmi

Among; in the middle of a group or collection

tribus

Tribes; groups of people sharing common ancestry

immortelles

Immortal; not subject to death or eternal beings

accès

Access; the right or ability to enter somewhere

s'y

Himself there; reflexive pronoun combined with 'y'

trouvait

Was found or located; imperfect of 'trouver'

Présent

Present; being there in person at a location

sens

Senses; the faculties of perception and feeling

Or

Now or yet; transitional conjunction introducing contrast

grand

Great or large; of notable size or importance

Seigneur

Lord; a title of respect for a ruler or deity

cieux

Heavens or skies; the celestial realm above earth

Ennemi

Enemy; a foe or adversary in opposition

tout-puissant

Almighty or all-powerful; having supreme unlimited power

mal

Evil or harm; badness or moral wrongdoing

accorda

Granted or gave; simple past of 'accorder'

telle

Such; of that particular kind or degree

faveur

Favor; a kind or gracious act of goodwill

considération

Consideration; careful thought or regard for something

effet

Effect or result; an outcome or consequence

ceux

Those; masculine plural demonstrative pronoun

devaient

Were supposed to; imperfect of 'devoir'

procéder

To proceed or come from; to originate from something

Cela

That; demonstrative pronoun referring to something mentioned

semble

Seems; third-person present of 'sembler'

jugement

Judgment; the ability to make considered decisions

raison

Reason; rational thought or a logical justification

mérité

Deserved or merited; earned through one's actions

Car

For or because; explanatory conjunction giving a reason

fut

Was; third-person simple past of 'être'

choisi

Chosen or selected; past participle of 'choisir'

vaste

Vast or immense; of very great extent or size

empire

Empire; a large realm ruled by an emperor

hauteurs

Heights; elevated places or lofty realms above

empyréennes

Empyrean; relating to the highest heavenly sphere

ciel

Sky or heaven; the space above or celestial realm

L'un

One of them; elided form of 'l'un'

l'autre

The other; referring to a second of two things

dire

To say or tell; to express something in words

vrai

True or real; in accordance with fact or reality

furent

Were; third-person plural simple past of 'être'

ordonnés

Ordered or ordained; arranged or decreed officially

établis

Established or set up; founded or put in place

lieu

Place or location; a specific spot or setting

saint

Holy or sacred; consecrated or of divine character

siège

Seat or see; a throne or official place of authority

Celui

The one; masculine singular demonstrative pronoun

succède

Succeeds or follows; takes the place of another

voyage

Journey or voyage; a trip to a distant place

chant

Song or chant; a melodic piece of poetry or music

rendu

Made or rendered; past participle of 'rendre'

célèbre

Famous or celebrated; widely known and acclaimed

Apprit

Learned; third-person simple past of 'apprendre'

choses

Things; objects, matters, or subjects in general

donnèrent

Gave; third-person plural simple past of 'donner'

victoire

Victory; a success achieved in a battle or contest

robe

Robe or gown; a long flowing ceremonial garment

papale

Papal; relating to the Pope or papal authority

temps

Time; the ongoing sequence of past, present, future

ultérieurs

Later or subsequent; occurring at a future time

vase

Vessel or vase; a container chosen for a purpose

élu

Chosen or elected; selected for a special purpose

voyagea

Traveled or journeyed; simple past of 'voyager'

également

Also or equally; in the same manner or likewise

rapporter

To bring back or report; to convey information to others

certitude

Certainty; the state of being completely sure

foi

Faith; trust or belief in a religious or moral sense

entrée

Entry or entrance; the act of entering or beginning

salut

Salvation; deliverance from sin and its consequences

Mais

But; conjunction expressing contrast or opposition

pourquoi

Why; used to ask for a reason or explanation

devrais-je

Should I; first-person conditional of 'devoir' inverted

m'y

Myself there; me combined with the adverb 'y'

hasarder

To risk or venture; to expose oneself to danger

permet

Allows or permits; third-person present of 'permettre'