The Scarlet Letter — Page 15

Vocabulary

Enracinée

Rooted, deeply established in a place or tradition

profondément

Deeply, to a great or intense degree

dans

In, inside, or within a place or time

la

The, feminine definite article in French

prime

Early, as in the earliest part of something

enfance

Childhood, the early period of a person's life

et

And, a basic coordinating conjunction

jeunesse

Youth, the period of being young

de

Of or from, a common French preposition

ville

City or town, an urban settlement

par

By or through, indicating means or agent

ces

These or those, a demonstrative adjective

deux

Two, the number 2

hommes

Men, adult male human beings

sérieux

Serious, earnest, or grave in manner

énergiques

Energetic, full of vigor and determination

lignée

Lineage, a line of descendants from an ancestor

a

Has, third-person singular of avoir (to have)

depuis

Since or for, indicating duration from a point

lors

Then, at that time; used in depuis lors (since then)

subsisté

Subsisted, continued to exist or survive

ici

Here, in this place

toujours

Always or still, indicating continuity or persistence

aussi

Also, too, or as well

respectabilité

Respectability, the quality of being socially respectable

jamais

Never, or ever in negative constructions

pour

For, in order to, or on behalf of

autant

As much, as many, or to that extent

que

That, which, or as; a versatile conjunction

je

I, first-person singular subject pronoun

sache

Know, subjunctive form of savoir (to know)

déshonorée

Dishonored, brought shame or disgrace upon

un

A, an, or one; indefinite article or numeral

seul

Only, alone, or a single one

membre

Member, a person belonging to a group or family

indigne

Unworthy, dishonorable, or beneath one's dignity

mais

But, a conjunction expressing contrast or opposition

rarement

Rarely, seldom, not often

ou

Or, a disjunctive coordinating conjunction

d'

Of or from, elided form of de before vowel

autre

Other, another, or different

côté

Side, aspect, or direction

après

After, following in time or order

les

The, plural definite article in French

premières

First, earliest; feminine plural of premier

générations

Generations, successive groups of people born in an era

n'

Not, elided negative particle ne before vowel

accomplissant

Accomplishing, carrying out or achieving something

quelque

Some, any, or a certain unspecified thing

acte

Act, deed, or action performed by someone

mémorable

Memorable, worthy of being remembered or noted

ni

Nor, neither; used in negative correlative constructions

même

Even, same, or itself; emphasizing word

ne

Not, the first element of French negation

faisant

Making or doing, present participle of faire

valoir

To be worth, or to assert a claim or value

moindre

Least, slightest, or smallest in degree

prétention

Claim, pretension, or aspiration to something

à

To, at, or in; a fundamental French preposition

notoriété

Notoriety or fame, being widely known publicly

publique

Public, relating to the community or general population

Peu

Little, few, or not much in quantity

peu

Little; peu à peu means little by little

ils

They, third-person plural masculine subject pronoun

ont

Have, third-person plural of avoir (to have)

sombré

Sunk, fallen into obscurity or decline

presque

Almost, nearly, not quite completely

hors

Outside, beyond, or out of range

vue

View, sight, or the act of seeing

comme

Like, as, or in the way that

vieilles

Old, ancient; feminine plural of vieux

maisons

Houses, buildings used as homes

çà

Here and there; used in çà et là

là

There, in that place; also used for emphasis

rues

Streets, public roads in a town or city

se

Oneself, reflexive pronoun for third person

trouvent

Find themselves, are located; from trouver

recouvertes

Covered over, buried under layers of material

mi-

Half-, mid-; a prefix indicating halfway point

hauteur

Height, the measurement from base to top

jusqu'

Until or up to; elided form of jusqu'à

aux

To the, at the; contraction of à + les

avant-

Before-, fore-; prefix indicating front or prior

toits

Roofs, the coverings on top of buildings

l'

The, elided definite article before a vowel

accumulation

Accumulation, a gradual buildup of material over time

nouvelles

New, recent; feminine plural of nouveau

terres

Lands, earths, or soils; plural of terre

De

From, of; preposition indicating origin or possession

père

Father, a male parent

en

In, by, or as; a versatile French preposition

fils

Son or sons, male offspring

pendant

During, for a period of time

plus

More, or no longer in negative constructions

siècle

Century, a period of one hundred years

suivi

Followed, past participle of suivre (to follow)

mer

Sea, the large body of saltwater

capitaine

Captain, commander of a ship or military unit

cheveux

Hair, the strands growing on a person's head

gris

Gray, the color between black and white

chaque

Each, every individual one in a group

génération

Generation, a single stage in descent from ancestor

retirant

Withdrawing, stepping back from a position

du

Of the, from the; contraction of de + le

pont

Bridge or ship's deck; a platform structure

arrière

Back, rear, or stern of a ship

vers

Toward, in the direction of something

demeure

Dwelling, residence, or family home

familiale

Family, relating to or belonging to a family

tandis

While, whereas; used in tandis que

qu'

That or as; elided form of que before vowel

garçon

Boy, a male child or young man

quatorze

Fourteen, the number 14

ans

Years, units of time equal to twelve months

prenait

Was taking, imperfect tense of prendre (to take)

place

Place, position, or spot assigned to someone

héréditaire

Hereditary, passed down through generations by inheritance

devant

In front of, before in position

le

The, masculine singular definite article

mât

Mast, the tall pole on a sailing ship

affrontant

Facing, confronting bravely something difficult or dangerous

embruns

Sea spray, fine water droplets blown from waves

salés

Salty, containing or tasting of salt

tempête

Storm, a violent weather disturbance at sea

qui

Who or which, a relative or interrogative pronoun

avaient

Had, third-person plural imperfect of avoir

soufflé

Blown, past participle of souffler (to blow)

furie

Fury, fierce violent force or rage

contre

Against, in opposition to or in contact with

son

His, her, its; possessive adjective for third person

grand-

Grand-, great-; prefix for grandparent relations

Le

The, masculine singular definite article

lui

Him or to him; third-person singular pronoun

temps

Time, or weather; a polysemous French noun

voulu

Wanted, past participle of vouloir (to want)

passait

Was passing or spending time; imperfect of passer

gaillard

Forecastle, the forward deck section of a ship

avant

Before or front; bow of a ship

cabine

Cabin, a small room on a ship or aircraft

traversait

Was crossing or going through; imperfect of traverser

une

A, an; feminine indefinite article

virilité

Virility, manly strength or masculine character

tumultueuse

Tumultuous, wild, chaotic, and full of commotion

revenait

Was returning, came back; imperfect of revenir

ses

His, her, its; plural possessive adjective

pérégrinations

Peregrinations, long wandering journeys through the world

travers

Through, across; used in à travers (through)

monde

World, or people in general; universe

vieillir

To grow old, to age over time

mourir

To die, to cease living

mêler

To mix or mingle; blend into something else

sa

His, her, its; feminine singular possessive adjective

poussière

Dust, fine particles of matter on surfaces

terre

Earth, land, or ground; also soil

natale

Native, relating to one's place of birth

Ce

This, that; demonstrative pronoun or adjective

long

Long, extended in duration or length

attachement

Attachment, strong emotional bond to a person or place

famille

Family, a group of related people

endroit

Place, spot, or location

tant

So much, as much; indicates degree or quantity

lieu

Place, location; used in lieu de naissance

naissance

Birth, the moment of being born

sépulture

Burial, the act of burying the dead

crée

Creates, third-person singular of créer (to create)

parenté

Kinship, a sense of connection or relationship

entre

Between or among two or more things

être

To be; also used as a noun meaning being

humain

Human, relating to or characteristic of people

tout

All, every, entirely, or completely

fait

Made or done; past participle of faire

indépendante

Independent, not dependent on or influenced by others

charme

Charm, appeal, or enchanting quality of something

paysage

Landscape, the scenery of a natural environment

des

Of the, some; plural partitive or definite article

circonstances

Circumstances, conditions surrounding a situation or event

morales

Moral, relating to ethics or principles of conduct

entourent

Surround, encircle from all sides

est

Is, third-person singular of être (to be)

pas

Not, step; used in ne...pas negation

amour

Love, a deep affection or romantic feeling

instinct

Instinct, an innate natural impulse or tendency