The Odyssey: Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original — Page 1

Vocabulary

Ulysse

Odysseus, hero of Homer's epic poem

se

reflexive pronoun meaning himself, herself, itself

réveille

wakes up, rouses from sleep

au

contraction of à le, meaning at the or to the

milieu

middle, center, or midst of something

du

contraction of de le, meaning of the

vers

verse, line of poetry or text

Livre

book, a major division of a long work

d'

contracted form of de, meaning of or from

où

where, relative or interrogative adverb of place

le

definite article or pronoun meaning the or it

récit

narrative, account, or story of events

continue

continues, goes on without stopping

jusqu'

until, up to, as far as a point

à

preposition meaning to, at, or in

la

feminine definite article meaning the

fin

end, conclusion of something

Dans

in, inside, within a place or context

L'

contracted definite article before vowel sound

Auteure

female author, woman who writes a work

de

preposition meaning of, from, or about

l'

contracted definite article le or la before vowel

Odyssée

Homer's epic poem about Odysseus's journey home

j'

contracted first-person pronoun I before vowel

ai

first-person singular form of avoir, meaning have

écrit

written, past participle of écrire

introduction

introductory section presenting a topic or work

des

plural indefinite article meaning some or of the

et

conjunction meaning and, linking words or clauses

ainsi

thus, so, in this way or manner

que

conjunction or pronoun meaning that, which, or than

rédaction

drafting, writing, or editing of a text

un

indefinite article or number meaning a or one

nouveau

new, recent, or different from before

conseil

council, assembly, or advisory meeting

dieux

gods, plural of dieu, divine beings

début

beginning, start of something

pour

preposition meaning for, in order to

prendre

to take, seize, or occupy something

place

place, position, or spot in a sequence

celui

demonstrative pronoun meaning the one, that one

qui

relative or interrogative pronoun meaning who or which

avait

had, imperfect tense of avoir

été

been, past participle of être

déplacé

displaced, moved from its original position

furent

were, simple past tense of être

les

plural definite article meaning the

seules

only, sole, feminine plural adjective

choses

things, objects, or matters in general

faites

done, made, feminine plural past participle of faire

donner

to give, to provide something to someone

même

same, even, or very, used for emphasis

une

feminine indefinite article meaning a or an

apparence

appearance, outward look or semblance of something

unité

unity, coherence, oneness of a whole

ancien

old, former, ancient in time or history

plan

plan, outline, or structure of a work

dissimuler

to conceal, hide, or disguise something

fait

fact, deed, or past participle of faire

Muse

Muse, divine source of poetic inspiration

après

after, following in time or order

avoir

to have, auxiliary or main verb

invitée

invited, called upon, feminine past participle

chanter

to sing, to perform or recite in song

sujet

subject, topic, or theme being discussed

passe

spends, passes time in a certain way

deux

two, the number two

tiers

thirds, one of three equal parts

son

his, her, its, possessive adjective

temps

time, period, or tense in grammar

en

preposition or pronoun meaning in, on, or some

très

very, used to intensify an adjective or adverb

différent

different, distinct, not the same as another

avec

with, in the company or context of

point

point, element, or climactic moment

culminant

culminating, reaching the highest or decisive point

personne

person, nobody when used with negative ne

ne

negative particle used with pas or other negatives

lui

him, her, indirect object pronoun

a

has, third-person singular of avoir

demandé

asked, requested, past participle of demander

Car

for, because, conjunction giving reason

Retour

return, homecoming, journey back

occupe

occupies, takes up space or time

gros

large, big, the greater part of something

huit

eight, the number eight

Livres

books, major divisions of a long literary work

Pénélope

Penelope, faithful wife of Odysseus in epic

Prétendants

suitors, men competing for Penelope's hand

seize

sixteen, the number sixteen

Je

I, first-person singular subject pronoun

crois

believe, think, first-person of croire

cela

that, demonstrative pronoun referring to something

est

is, third-person singular of être

substantiellement

substantially, essentially, in large part true

exact

exact, accurate, precisely correct

Enfin

finally, lastly, in conclusion

traiter

to treat, deal with, or address a topic

peu

little, few, a small amount or degree

important

important, significant, of great consequence

je

I, first-person singular subject pronoun

remarque

note, remark, observation on a subject

édition

edition, published version of a text

terminer

to end, finish, conclude a section or work

par

by, through, by means of something

virgule

comma, punctuation mark in written text

Les

plural definite article meaning the

signes

signs, marks, symbols used in writing

ponctuation

punctuation, system of marks in writing

sont

are, third-person plural of être

date

date, time period of origin

bien

well, much, very, used as intensifier

plus

more, additional, or no longer with ne

récente

recent, from a later or more modern period

sorte

sort, kind, type, or manner of something

qu'

contracted form of que before vowel sound

il

he, it, third-person masculine subject pronoun

semble

seems, appears to be the case

pas

not, negative adverb used with ne

utile

useful, helpful, serving a practical purpose

s'

contracted reflexive pronoun se before vowel

tenir

to hold, keep, or stick to something

texte

text, written or printed content of a work

détail

detail, small particular element of something

aussi

also, too, as well, or so

minime

minimal, very small, of little importance

néanmoins

nevertheless, however, yet, despite that

simple

simple, plain, uncomplicated in nature

esprit

spirit, mind, attitude, or disposition

conservatisme

conservatism, tendency to preserve existing practices

préféré

preferred, chosen as more desirable option

faire

to do, make, carry out an action

Pourquoi

why, for what reason or purpose

Grec

Greek, relating to Greece or Greek language