The Scarlet Letter — Page 2

Vocabulary

esquisse

A preliminary sketch or outline of something

aurait

Conditional form of 'avoir'; would have

pu

Past participle of 'pouvoir'; been able to

peut-être

Perhaps; possibly; maybe

être

To be; fundamental linking verb

entièrement

Entirely; completely; wholly

omise

Omitted; left out; excluded (feminine form)

sans

Without; lacking something

perte

Loss; deprivation of something valuable

pour

For; in order to; on behalf of

public

The public; general audience or readership

ni

Neither; nor; used in negative constructions

préjudice

Prejudice; harm; detriment to someone

livre

Book; a written or printed work

mais

But; however; yet; conjunction of contrast

ayant

Present participle of 'avoir'; having

entrepris

Undertaken; taken on a task or project

écrire

To write; to compose text

estime

Considers; estimates; holds in regard

rédigée

Written; drafted; composed (feminine past participle)

dans

In; inside; within a place or context

esprit

Spirit; mind; attitude or way of thinking

meilleur

Better; superior; of higher quality

ou

Or; alternative conjunction

plus

More; additional; comparative adverb

bienveillant

Benevolent; kind; well-meaning toward others

mesure

Measure; extent; degree of something

où

Where; in which; relative or interrogative pronoun

capacités

Abilities; capacities; skills or talents

permettaient

Allowed; permitted (imperfect tense, third person plural)

avec

With; together with; in company of

effet

Effect; result; impact of something

vérité

Truth; truthfulness; factual accuracy

vivant

Living; alive; lively (present participle of 'vivre')

auteur

Author; writer; creator of a work

donc

Therefore; thus; so; logical conclusion

contraint

Constrained; compelled; forced to do something

republier

To republish; to publish again

introductive

Introductory; serving as an introduction (feminine)

changer

To change; to alter; to modify

seul

Alone; only; single; solitary

mot

Word; a single unit of language

mars

March; the third month of the year

TABLE

Table; list; organized arrangement of contents

MATIÈRES

Matters; subjects; contents (as in table of contents)

DOUANE

Customs house; office for collecting import duties

INTRODUCTION

Introduction; preliminary section of a book

LETTRE

Letter; a written character or correspondence

ÉCARLATE

Scarlet; a bright red color

PORTE

Door; gate; entrance to a building

PRISON

Prison; jail; place of confinement

PLACE

Square; public open space in a town

MARCHÉ

Market; marketplace where goods are sold

RECONNAISSANCE

Recognition; acknowledgment; gratitude or identification

ENTRETIEN

Interview; conversation; maintenance of something

À

At; to; preposition indicating location or direction

AIGUILLE

Needle; a thin pointed sewing instrument

PERLE

Pearl; a precious gem formed in oysters

SALLE

Hall; room; large interior space in a building

GOUVERNEUR

Governor; a ruler or administrator of a region

ENFANT

Child; a young boy or girl

FÉE

Fairy; a magical mythical creature

PASTEUR

Pastor; minister; religious leader of a congregation

SANGSUE

Leech; a bloodsucking worm; metaphor for exploiter

PATIENT

Patient; a person receiving medical treatment

INTÉRIEUR

Interior; inside; inner part of something

CŒUR

Heart; the organ or seat of emotions

VEILLE

Eve; vigil; the night before an event

AUTRE

Other; another; different from the current one

REGARD

Look; gaze; a glance directed at someone

SUR

On; upon; above; preposition of position

MÉDECIN

Doctor; physician; medical practitioner

PROMENADE

Walk; stroll; a leisurely outdoor walk

EN

In; by; while; preposition of location or manner

FORÊT

Forest; a large wooded area with trees

PAROISSIENNE

Parishioner; a female member of a church parish

FLOT

Wave; flow; a surge of water or emotion

SOLEIL

Sun; the star at the center of our solar system

BORD

Edge; bank; border or rim of something

RUISSEAU

Stream; brook; a small flowing body of water

DANS

In; inside; within a space or context

LABYRINTHE

Labyrinth; maze; a complex network of paths

FÊTE

Festival; celebration; a festive public event

PROCESSION

Procession; a formal march or ceremonial parade

RÉVÉLATION

Revelation; a dramatic disclosure of hidden truth

CONCLUSION

Conclusion; final section summarizing or ending something

LISTE

List; an enumeration of items or names

ILLUSTRATIONS

Illustrations; images or drawings accompanying text

Dessiné

Drawn; designed (past participle of 'dessiner')

par

By; through; via; preposition of agency

gravé

Engraved; etched; carved into a surface

vignettes

Vignettes; small decorative illustrations or designs

ornementales

Ornamental; decorative; used for adornment