Chapitre 3 Flashcards
queer
(old-fashioned)
strange
*
If you ask me, there’s something a bit queer going on.
stupified = stupefied
stupéfié, abasourdi, hébêté
*
…a violent slap on the side of the head, which stunned and stupefied him.
clothes-press
a piece of furniture for storing clothes, usually containing wide drawers and a cabinet
**
souvent plusieurs tiroirs en bas pour env. 1/3 de la hauteur
couch
lit étroit, couchette
to obviate
(formal)
obvier, prévenir, rendre inutile
To obviate something such as a problem or a need means to remove it or make it unnecessary.
*
The presence of roller blinds obviated the need for curtains
Lengthy negotiations obviated any risk of conflict.
a parachute can be used to obviate disaster.
ledge
narrow shelf along the bottom edge of a window
mildewed
qui a des moisissures
mildew = moisissure
vapid
insipide, fade
dull, offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; bland
listless
listlessness
apathique, mou, indolent
apathie, mollesse, indolence
*
He was listless and pale and wouldn’t eat much.
Amy was distressed by Helen’s listlessness.
**
From Middle English lystles, equivalent to list (“desire”)
to rouse
to rouse = réveiller qu’un (après le sommeil), motiver, éveiller l’attention
to rouse (oneself) = s’agiter après une période d’inactivité / to become active or energetic
*
She was roused from a deep sleep by a hand on her shoulder
He roused himself from his lazy contemplation of the scene beneath him.
A man not quickly roused to anger or harsh opinions.
obtrusive
envahissant, tenace, importun, trop voyant
noticeable in an unpleasant way.
*
The logo was still visible but less obtrusive this time in beige.
The soldiers were in civilian clothes, to make their presence less obtrusive.
wick (of a candle)
mèche (d’une bougie)
to snuff out
Eteindre (une bougie)
*
Tenzin snuffed out the candle.
ill at ease
mal à l’aise
*
He appeared embarrassed and ill at ease with the sustained applause that greeted him.
to linger
persister, subsister, trainer, s’attarder, rester en vie
When something such as an idea, feeling, or illness lingers, it continues to exist for a long time, often much longer than expected.
*
The tradition seems to linger on
lingering doubts
lingering odours
we lingered over lunch (s’attarder à table)
she might linger on for years yet
musty
qui sent le renfermé, le moisi
Something that is musty smells old and damp
*
There are racks of musty clothing and piles of junk.
flyleaf
page de garde
The flyleaf of a book is a page at the front that has nothing printed on it, or just the title and the author’s name.
select
de (premier) choix
A select group is a small group of some of the best people or things of their kind.
scarcely
= hardly à peine * I scarcely knew him. She seemed scarcely aware of him.
morsel
morceau, bouchée
very small amount of something, especially a very small piece of food.
to scrawl
gribouiller, griffoner
to write in a careless and untidy way.
*
I scrawled a quick note to Judith and put it under her door.
Someone had scrawled graffiti across the wall.
to kindle
attiser, susciter
If something kindles a particular emotion in someone, it makes them start to feel it.
*
These poems have helped kindle the imagination of generations of children.
She hesitated, suspicion kindling within her
forthwith
(formal)
immédiatement
*
I could have you arrested forthwith!
garret
mansarde (pièce aménagée sous un toit)
an attic or semi-finished room just beneath the roof of a house.
to bask
if you bask in the sunshine, you lie somewhere sunny and enjoy the heat.
revel in and make the most of (something pleasing).
*
When you win the Pulitzer, you bask in your own glory.
ploughboy
garçon de charrue (= pour le labour)
to have the face to
To have the will to do something bold, rude, or impudent; to have the nerve to do something.
palaver
palabres, chichis
unnecessary fuss and bother about the way something is done.
*
Cut the palaver and get down to business
to have the face to
To have the will to do something bold, rude, or impudent; to have the nerve to do something.
*
I can’t believe that intern had the brass face to ask for a raise on her first day!
effacer cette carte
effacer
snug
confortable, douillet
If you feel snug or are in a snug place, you are very warm and comfortable, especially because you are protected from cold weather.
*
They lay snug and warm amid the blankets.
She was safe and snug in Ruth’s arms
to thrust
enfoncer, plonger If you thrust something or someone somewhere, you push or move them there quickly with a lot of force. * They thrust him into the back of a jeep. She thrust her hands into her pockets.
dingy
miteux, douteux
unattractive esp. because of being dirty or not cared for:
*
Shaw took me to his rather dingy office.
to asseverate
to assert or declare emphatically or solemnly
*
he always asseverated that he did not know
hubbub
brouhaha, vacarme
noise made by a lot of people all talking or shouting at the same time.
You can describe a situation where there is great confusion or excitement as a hubbub.
*
There was a hubbub of excited conversation from over a thousand people.
to asseverate
affirmer solennellement
to assert or declare emphatically or solemnly
*
He always asseverated that he did not know
he asseverated the need for a just, fair, and united country
nook
recoin, retraite
small and sheltered place
ajar
entrouvert, entrebâillé
*
He left the door ajar in case I needed him.
the home help had left the window ajar
to appropriate
(formal)
If someone appropriates something which does not belong to them, they take it, usually without the right to do so.
*
Several other newspapers have appropriated the idea.
cloak
grande cape
long, loose, sleeveless piece of clothing which people used to wear over their other clothes when they went out.
a scamper
trottinement, galopade
a playful or hurried run or movement
When people or small animals scamper somewhere, they move there quickly with small, light steps.
lachrymose
(literary)
Someone who is lachrymose cries very easily and very often.
*
…the tears of lachrymose mourners.
drowsily
in a tired way, as if you are in a state between sleeping and being awake
*
We were awakened from deep sleep and made our way drowsily down the stairs
to set out
to start a journey / to do something
*
When setting out on a long walk, always wear suitable boots.
He has achieved what he set out to do three years ago.
to flounder
s’empêtrer, avancer péniblement
struggle or stagger clumsily in mud or water.
*
He was floundering about in the shallow offshore waters
to weary
to be wearied of / by
(formal)
se lasser de, être fatigué par (propre + fig)
If you weary of something or it wearies you, you become tired of it and lose your enthusiasm for it.
*
The public had wearied of his repeated warnings of a revolution that never seemed to start.
She was wearied by her persistent cough
a staff
bâton, houlette, crosse, cane strong stick or pole ( walking, as a weapon, or as a symbol of authority) * pilgrim's staff staff flag (mat d'un drapeau)
cudgel
gourdin (gros bâton court)
short stick that is used as a weapon
thrice
3 times
*
Dean was thrice married
hollow
creux
A hollow is an area that is lower than the surrounding surface.
