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The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde — Page 2

English → Fr Full Text Level 7/10

" In this character, it was frequently his fortune to be the last reputable acquaintance and the last good influence in the lives of downgoing men.

« Dans ce rôle, il était fréquemment son destin d'être la dernière fréquentation respectable et la dernière bonne influence dans la vie des hommes qui déclinaient.

And to such as these, so long as they came about his chambers, he never marked a shade of change in his demeanour.

Et envers ceux-là, aussi longtemps qu'ils venaient dans ses appartements, il ne marqua jamais la moindre nuance de changement dans son attitude.

No doubt the feat was easy to Mr. Utterson; for he was undemonstrative at the best, and even his friendship seemed to be founded in a similar catholicity of good-nature.

Sans doute la chose était-elle facile à M. Utterson ; car il était peu démonstratif au mieux, et même son amitié semblait fondée sur une semblable universalité de bonne nature.

It is the mark of a modest man to accept his friendly circle ready-made from the hands of opportunity; and that was the lawyer's way.

C'est la marque d'un homme modeste d'accepter son cercle d'amis tout fait des mains du hasard ; et c'était là la manière du notaire.

His friends were those of his own blood or those whom he had known the longest; his affections, like ivy, were the growth of time, they implied no aptness in the object.

Ses amis étaient ceux de son propre sang ou ceux qu'il connaissait depuis le plus longtemps ; ses affections, comme le lierre, étaient le fruit du temps, elles n'impliquaient aucune aptitude particulière chez l'objet de celles-ci.

Hence, no doubt the bond that united him to Mr. Richard Enfield, his distant kinsman, the well-known man about town.

De là, sans doute, le lien qui l'unissait à M. Richard Enfield, son lointain parent, le célèbre homme du monde.

It was a nut to crack for many, what these two could see in each other, or what subject they could find in common.

C'était une énigme pour beaucoup, ce que ces deux hommes pouvaient bien se trouver, ou quel sujet ils pouvaient avoir en commun.

It was reported by those who encountered them in their Sunday walks, that they said nothing, looked singularly dull and would hail with obvious relief the appearance of a friend.

Ceux qui les croisaient lors de leurs promenades du dimanche rapportaient qu'ils ne disaient rien, paraissaient singulièrement mornes et accueillaient avec un soulagement manifeste l'apparition d'un ami.

Vocabulary

Dans: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside' a place or time.
ce: Demonstrative adjective or pronoun meaning 'this' or 'that'.
rôle: A part played or a function someone fulfills.
il: Third-person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
était: Imperfect tense of 'être'; meaning 'was' or 'used to be'.
fréquemment: Adverb meaning 'frequently' or 'often'.
son: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
destin: Noun meaning 'destiny' or 'fate'.
d': Contracted preposition 'de' meaning 'of' or 'from'.
être: Infinitive verb meaning 'to be'.
la: Feminine definite article meaning 'the'.
dernière: Adjective meaning 'last' or 'final' (feminine form).
fréquentation: Noun meaning 'association' or 'company kept with someone'.
respectable: Adjective meaning 'respectable' or 'worthy of esteem'.
et: Conjunction meaning 'and', linking words or clauses.
bonne: Feminine adjective meaning 'good' or 'beneficial'.
influence: Noun meaning 'influence' or 'effect on someone's behavior'.
dans: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'within' a context.
vie: Noun meaning 'life' or 'existence'.
des: Plural indefinite article or contraction of 'de les'.
hommes: Plural noun meaning 'men' or 'people'.
qui: Relative or interrogative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which'.
déclinaient: Imperfect tense of 'décliner'; were declining or deteriorating.
Et: Conjunction meaning 'and', often used to start a sentence.
envers: Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'with regard to' someone.
ceux-là: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those ones' or 'those people'.
aussi: Adverb meaning 'also', 'too', or 'as well'.
longtemps: Adverb meaning 'for a long time'.
qu': Contracted conjunction 'que' meaning 'that' or 'as long as'.
ils: Third-person plural masculine pronoun meaning 'they'.
venaient: Imperfect of 'venir'; meaning 'were coming' or 'used to come'.
ses: Plural possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
appartements: Plural noun meaning 'apartments' or 'private rooms'.
ne: Negative particle used with 'pas' or alone to negate verbs.
marqua: Past tense of 'marquer'; meaning 'marked' or 'showed'.
jamais: Adverb meaning 'never' or 'ever'.
moindre: Adjective meaning 'slightest' or 'least', often in negation.
nuance: Noun meaning 'nuance', 'shade', or 'subtle difference'.
de: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
changement: Noun meaning 'change' or 'alteration in something'.
attitude: Noun meaning 'attitude' or 'manner of behaving toward others'.
Sans: Preposition meaning 'without'.
doute: Noun meaning 'doubt'; 'sans doute' means 'undoubtedly'.
chose: Noun meaning 'thing' or 'matter'.
était-elle: Inverted form of 'elle était'; meaning 'it was' (interrogative).
facile: Adjective meaning 'easy' or 'not difficult'.
à: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'for'.
M.: Abbreviation for 'Monsieur', meaning 'Mr.' in French.
car: Conjunction meaning 'because' or 'for', giving a reason.
peu: Adverb meaning 'little' or 'not very'.
démonstratif: Adjective meaning 'demonstrative' or 'expressive of emotions.
au: Contraction of 'à le', meaning 'at the' or 'to the'.
mieux: Adverb meaning 'better' or 'best'; superlative of 'bien'.
même: Adjective or adverb meaning 'same', 'even', or 'itself'.
amitié: Noun meaning 'friendship' or 'warm relationship between people'.
semblait: Imperfect of 'sembler'; meaning 'seemed' or 'appeared to be'.
fondée: Past participle of 'fonder'; meaning 'founded' or 'based on'.
sur: Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'based on'.
une: Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
semblable: Adjective meaning 'similar' or 'like'; also noun meaning 'fellow'.
universalité: Noun meaning 'universality' or 'all-encompassing quality'.
nature: Noun meaning 'nature' or 'inherent character of something.
C': Contracted form of 'ce'; used in expressions like 'c'est'.
est: Third-person singular of 'être'; meaning 'is'.
marque: Noun or verb meaning 'mark', 'sign', or 'it marks'.
un: Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'.
homme: Noun meaning 'man' or 'human being'.
modeste: Adjective meaning 'modest' or 'unassuming in character.
accepter: Infinitive verb meaning 'to accept' or 'to receive willingly'.
cercle: Noun meaning 'circle' or 'group of friends or associates'.
amis: Plural noun meaning 'friends'.
tout: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all', 'every', or 'everything'.
fait: Noun or past participle meaning 'fact', 'deed', or 'made'.
mains: Plural noun meaning 'hands'.
du: Contraction of 'de le', meaning 'of the' or 'from the'.
hasard: Noun meaning 'chance', 'luck', or 'random circumstance'.
c': Contracted form of 'ce' before a vowel, meaning 'it' or 'that'.
là: Adverb meaning 'there' or indicating a specific place or idea.
manière: Noun meaning 'manner', 'way', or 'style of doing something'.
notaire: Noun meaning 'notary' or 'solicitor'; a legal professional.
Ses: Plural possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
étaient: Imperfect of 'être'; meaning 'were' (third-person plural).
ceux: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' or 'those ones'.
propre: Adjective meaning 'own', 'clean', or 'proper'.
sang: Noun meaning 'blood' or 'bloodline'; used for family relations.
ou: Conjunction meaning 'or', presenting an alternative.
connaissait: Imperfect of 'connaître'; meaning 'knew' or 'was acquainted with'.
depuis: Preposition meaning 'since' or 'for' a period of time.
le: Masculine definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'him'.
plus: Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most'; used in comparisons.
affections: Plural noun meaning 'affections' or 'feelings of fondness.
comme: Conjunction or adverb meaning 'like', 'as', or 'just as'.
lierre: Noun meaning 'ivy'; a climbing plant.
fruit: Noun meaning 'fruit' or 'result' of something.
temps: Noun meaning 'time' or 'weather'.
elles: Third-person plural feminine pronoun meaning 'they'.
n': Contracted negative particle 'ne' before a vowel.
impliquaient: Imperfect of 'impliquer'; meaning 'implied' or 'required'.
aucune: Negative adjective meaning 'no' or 'not any' (feminine form).
aptitude: Noun meaning 'aptitude', 'ability', or 'natural talent.
particulière: Feminine adjective meaning 'particular' or 'special'.
chez: Preposition meaning 'at the home of' or 'among'.
l': Contracted definite article 'le' or 'la' before a vowel.
objet: Noun meaning 'object' or 'subject' of something.
celles-ci: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'these ones' (feminine plural).
De: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
sans: Preposition meaning 'without'.
lien: Noun meaning 'link', 'bond', or 'connection between people.
unissait: Imperfect of 'unir'; meaning 'united' or 'connected' people.
lointain: Adjective meaning 'distant' or 'remote' in relationship or space.
parent: Noun meaning 'relative' or 'family member'.
célèbre: Adjective meaning 'famous' or 'well-known'.
monde: Noun meaning 'world' or 'people'; 'tout le monde' means everyone.
énigme: Noun meaning 'enigma', 'mystery', or 'puzzle'.
pour: Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to', or 'on behalf of'.
beaucoup: Adverb meaning 'a lot', 'many', or 'much'.
que: Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'what', or 'which'.
ces: Plural demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' or 'those'.
deux: Number meaning 'two'.
pouvaient: Imperfect of 'pouvoir'; meaning 'could' or 'were able to'.
bien: Adverb meaning 'well', 'very', or 'indeed'.
se: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself', 'himself', or 'themselves'.
trouver: Infinitive meaning 'to find' or 'to be located'.
quel: Interrogative adjective meaning 'what' or 'which'.
sujet: Noun meaning 'subject' or 'topic' of conversation.
avoir: Infinitive meaning 'to have'.
en: Preposition or pronoun meaning 'in', 'on', or 'of it'.
commun: Adjective meaning 'common' or 'shared'; 'en commun' means in common.
Ceux: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' or 'those who'.
les: Plural definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'them'.
croisaient: Imperfect of 'croiser'; meaning 'passed' or 'crossed paths with'.
lors: Adverb or preposition meaning 'at the time of' or 'during'.
leurs: Plural possessive adjective meaning 'their'.
promenades: Plural noun meaning 'walks' or 'strolls'.
dimanche: Noun meaning 'Sunday'.
rapportaient: Imperfect of 'rapporter'; meaning 'reported' or 'brought back'.
disaient: Imperfect of 'dire'; meaning 'were saying' or 'used to say'.
rien: Pronoun meaning 'nothing' when used with negation.
paraissaient: Imperfect of 'paraître'; meaning 'appeared' or 'seemed to be'.
singulièrement: Adverb meaning 'singularly', 'remarkably', or 'strangely'.
mornes: Adjective meaning 'gloomy', 'dull', or 'listless'.
accueillaient: Imperfect of 'accueillir'; meaning 'greeted' or 'welcomed someone'.
avec: Preposition meaning 'with'.
soulagement: Noun meaning 'relief' or 'alleviation of distress'.
manifeste: Adjective meaning 'manifest', 'obvious', or 'clearly evident'.
apparition: Noun meaning 'appearance', 'arrival', or 'apparition'.
ami: Noun meaning 'friend' or 'close acquaintance'.

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