The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 2 — Page 1

Vocabulary

À

Preposition meaning at, to, or in

juste

Just, exactly, or fair; used as adjective or adverb

après

Preposition meaning after or following in time

la

Definite article the, feminine singular form

tombée

Fall or onset; used in tombée de la nuit, nightfall

de

Preposition meaning of, from, or about

nuit

Night; the period of darkness after sunset

par

Preposition meaning by, through, or on a given occasion

un

Indefinite article a or an, masculine singular form

soir

Evening; the later part of the day

venteux

Windy; characterized by strong or gusty winds

l'

Elided definite article the before a vowel sound

automne

Autumn; the season between summer and winter

je

First person singular subject pronoun meaning I

jouissais

Imperfect tense of jouir; was enjoying or relishing something

du

Contraction of de le meaning of the, masculine singular

double

Double or twofold; referring to two combined things

luxe

Luxury; something pleasurable and indulgent beyond necessity

méditation

Meditation; deep reflective thought or contemplation

et

Conjunction meaning and, connecting words or clauses

d'

Elided preposition de meaning of or from

une

Indefinite article a or an, feminine singular form

pipe

Pipe; a tube used for smoking tobacco

en

Preposition meaning in, made of, or by

écume

Foam or froth; also refers to meerschaum pipe material

mer

Sea; the large body of salt water

compagnie

Company; the presence or fellowship of another person

mon

Possessive adjective meaning my, masculine singular form

ami

Friend; a person with whom one has close affection

dans

Preposition meaning in or inside a place or time

sa

Possessive adjective meaning his, her, or its, feminine

petite

Small or little; feminine form of petit

bibliothèque

Library or bookcase; a place or piece holding books

fond

Back or bottom; the far or deepest part of something

ou

Conjunction meaning or, presenting an alternative choice

cabinet

Small private room; a study or personal office space

livres

Books; written or printed works bound together

au

Contraction of à le meaning at the or on the

troisième

Third; the ordinal number following second in sequence

Rue

Street; a road in a French-speaking city or town

Faubourg

Suburb or outlying district of a French city

Pendant

Preposition meaning during or for a period of time

heure

Hour; a unit of time equal to sixty minutes

moins

Less or minus; used in comparisons or time expressions

nous

First person plural pronoun meaning we or us

avions

Imperfect of avoir meaning we had or we were having

gardé

Past participle of garder meaning kept or maintained

profond

Deep or profound; describing great depth or intensity

silence

Silence; the complete absence of sound or noise

tandis

Used in tandis que meaning while or whereas

que

Conjunction meaning that, which, or than in comparisons

chacun

Each one or everyone; referring to each individual separately

aux

Contraction of à les meaning to the or at the, plural

yeux

Eyes; the plural of œil, organs of sight

tout

All, every, or quite; a common intensifier or quantifier

observateur

Observer; a person who watches or notices things carefully

passage

Passerby; someone passing through or a corridor

aurait

Conditional of avoir meaning would have

pu

Past participle of pouvoir meaning been able to

sembler

To seem or appear to be a certain way

absorbé

Absorbed or engrossed; deeply focused on something

exclusivement

Exclusively; solely, to the complete exclusion of others

occupé

Occupied or busy; engaged in an activity or thought

les

Definite article the, plural form for masculine or feminine

tourbillons

Whirls or eddies; swirling masses of smoke or water

fumée

Smoke; the visible vapor produced by burning something

qui

Relative pronoun meaning who, which, or that

pesaient

Imperfect of peser; were weighing heavily or pressing down

sur

Preposition meaning on, upon, or over a surface

atmosphère

Atmosphere; the air or mood pervading an environment

chambre

Room or bedroom; an enclosed space within a building

Pour

Preposition meaning for, in order to, or for the sake of

ma

Possessive adjective meaning my, feminine singular form

part

Part or share; used in pour ma part meaning for my part

cependant

However or nevertheless; introducing a contrasting statement

discutais

Imperfect of discuter; was discussing or debating mentally

mentalement

Mentally; in one's mind, not spoken aloud

certains

Certain or some; referring to specific but unspecified things

sujets

Subjects or topics; themes of discussion or thought

avaient

Imperfect of avoir; they had or had been doing something

alimenté

Fed or fueled; past participle of alimenter, to supply

notre

Possessive adjective meaning our, shared first person plural

conversation

Conversation; spoken exchange of thoughts between people

plus

More or plus; used in comparatives or negation

tôt

Early or soon; referring to an earlier point in time

soirée

Evening; an evening event or the course of an evening

veux

First person present of vouloir meaning I want or I wish

dire

To say or to tell; an infinitive of speech

affaire

Affair or case; a matter or business under consideration

Morgue

Morgue; a place where bodies are kept, or a Poe story

le

Definite article the, masculine singular form

mystère

Mystery; something unexplained or secret and puzzling

entourant

Present participle of entourer; surrounding or encircling something

meurtre

Murder; the unlawful killing of a human being

Je

First person singular subject pronoun meaning I

considérai

Simple past of considérer; I considered or regarded something

donc

Therefore or so; a conjunction indicating logical consequence

comme

As or like; used for comparison or equivalence

sorte

Sort or kind; used in une sorte de meaning a kind of

coïncidence

Coincidence; a remarkable concurrence of events by chance

fait

Fact; something known to be true or to have occurred

porte

Door; a movable barrier at the entrance of a room

appartement

Apartment; a set of rooms used as a dwelling

s'

Elided reflexive pronoun se meaning himself, herself, or itself

ouvrit

Simple past of ouvrir; opened, referring to a door opening

brusquement

Abruptly or suddenly; in a sharp or unexpected manner

pour

Preposition meaning for or in order to do something

laisser

To let or to allow; to permit someone to do something

entrer

To enter; to come or go into a place or space

vieille

Old or aged; feminine form of vieux describing age

connaissance

Acquaintance or knowledge; someone or something one knows

Monsieur

Mister or sir; a French title of respect for a man

Préfet

Prefect; a high-ranking administrative or police official

police

Police; the law enforcement organization of a city

parisienne

Parisian; relating to or originating from Paris, France

Nous

First person plural pronoun meaning we or us

lui

Third person singular indirect pronoun meaning to him or her

fîmes

Simple past of faire; we made or we did something

accueil

Welcome or reception; the greeting given to a visitor

chaleureux

Warm or cordial; describing a friendly and hearty welcome

car

Conjunction meaning because or for, explaining a reason

il

Third person singular masculine pronoun meaning he or it

y

Adverbial pronoun meaning there or in it or in him

avait

Imperfect of avoir meaning there was or he had

chez

Preposition meaning at the home of or in the character of

cet

Demonstrative adjective this or that, masculine before vowel

homme

Man; an adult male human being

presque

Almost or nearly; not quite reaching a certain degree

autant

As much or as many; expressing equal quantity or degree

amusant

Amusing or entertaining; causing laughter or interest

méprisable

Despicable or contemptible; deserving scorn and disdain

ne

Negative particle used with pas to form negation

pas

Not; the main negation word used after ne in French

vu

Past participle of voir meaning seen or having seen

depuis

Since or for; indicating duration from a past point

plusieurs

Several or multiple; more than two but not very many

années

Years; plural of année, a full calendar year

étions

Imperfect of être; we were, first person plural past

restés

Past participle of rester; stayed or remained somewhere

obscurité

Darkness or obscurity; the state of being without light

se

Reflexive pronoun meaning himself, herself, or themselves

leva

Simple past of lever; rose or stood up from a seat

alors

Then or at that moment; indicating a subsequent action

intention

Intention; a planned purpose or aim behind an action

allumer

To light or to turn on; to ignite a flame or lamp

lampe

Lamp; a device that produces artificial light

mais

But or however; a conjunction introducing a contrast

rassit

Simple past of se rasseoir; sat back down again

sans

Preposition meaning without, indicating absence of something

avoir

To have; the infinitive of the auxiliary verb avoir

remarque

Remark or notice; an observation or comment about something