M
M.
, abbreviation for
Monsieur
;
m'
,
see
me
.
ma
,
see
mon
.
mâcher
,
v.
to chew.
machinal, -e
,
adj.
mechanical.
machinalement
,
adv.
mechanically.
mâchoire
,
f.
jaw.
mâchonner
,
v.
to munch, chew.
maçonner
,
v.
to build, wall up;
voûte maçonnée
, vaulted masonry.
madame (mesdames
,
pl.), f.
Mrs., Madam.
Madeleine (la)
,
f.
one of the principal and richest churches in Paris, having the form of a
Greek temple, built between 1764 and 1842.
mademoiselle
,
f.
Miss, young lady.
madrigal
,
m.
madrigal (love poem).
maëstro
,
m.
composer (Italian, = master).
magasin
,
m.
warehouse, store, shop, storehouse.
mage
,
m.
magian, astrologer;
pl.
magi, Wise Men (Bible).
magicien
,
m.
magician, wizard.
magique
,
adj.
magic.
magistrat
,
m.
magistrate.
magistrature
,
f.
magistracy;
-- assise
, judicial magistracy.
magnanime
,
adj.
magnanimous, high-minded.
magnétique
,
adj.
magnetic.
magnétiser
,
v.
to magnetize.
magnificence
,
f.
magnificence, splendor.
magnifique
,
adj.
magnificent.
Mahnoud-Ben-Ahmed
, Mahmud-Ben-Ahmed (the first and last names have been borne
by several Sultans of Turkey; Ben is the Hebrew word for son, it is not Arahic).
Mahomet
, Mohammed (founder of the Mohammedan religion, born in Mecca c. 571, died
in 632).
mai
,
m.
May.
maigre
,
adj. and s.
thin, scanty, meager, thin person.
maigreur
,
f.
thinness.
maigrir
,
v.
to grow thin.
maille
,
f.
mesh, aperture.
main
,
f.
hand;
mettre la -- sur
, to lay hold of.
maint, -e
,
adj.
many, many a.
maintenant
,
adv.
now.
maintenir
,
v.
to maintain, keep, hold.
maire
,
m.
mayor.
mais
,
conj.
but;
-- si
, why yes;
-- non
, why no, no indeed, no I tell you.
maison
,
f.
house, household;
-- de ville
, town-hall.
maître
,
m.
master, teacher, Squire or Mr. (title);
-- d'hôtel
, head-waiter, butler.
maîtresse
,
f.
mistress, sweetheart.
majesté
,
f.
majesty.
majestueusement
,
adv.
majestically.
majestueux, -euse
,
adj.
majestic.
major
,
m.
major.
majuscule
,
adj. and f.
capital.
mal, -e
,
adj.
(used only in a few phrases), bad, evil; male rage (also written as one word),
rage, fury.
mal
,
adv. and m.
evil, wrong, ill, in a bad way, sore, badly, poorly, indistinctly, harm, trouble,
damage, malady;
faire -- à
, to hurt;
-- noir
, gangrene; (familiarly used as
adj.
) bad, ill;
faire -- à
la tête
, to give a headache.
malade
,
adj. and s.
ill, sick, sick man, patient.
maladie
,
f.
malady, illness.
maladif, ~ive
,
adj.
sickly, unhealthy.
mâle
,
adj. and m.
male, man.
Malesherbes (Boulevard)
, handsome street in the north-western section of Paris,
named after the minister of Louis XVI, who was beheaded in the French Revolution (h not
pronounced).
malgré
,
prep.
in spite of.
malheur
,
m.
misfortune, accident, bad luck, unhappiness.
malheureusement
,
adv.
unfortunately.
malheureux, -euse
,
adj. and s.
unhappy, wretched, unfortunate, unlucky, wretch, unfortunate
person.
malicieux, -euse
,
adj.
mischievous, roguish, malicious.
malin, -igne
,
adj. and s.
cunning, sly, shrewd, cunning person, rogue.
Maloisel
, proper name;
oisel
in Old French =
oiseau
.
Maloison
, proper name,
cf.
oison,
m.
gosling.
malpropre
,
adj.
dirty, unclean.
maltraiter
,
v.
to maltreat, use roughly.
maman
,
f.
mama.
mamelle
,
f.
breast, teat, udder.
manche
,
f.
sleeve;
la Manche
, the English Channel;
m.
handle.
manchot, -e
,
adj. and s.
one-armed, one-armed person.
manège
,
m.
horsemanship, riding-school, riding-grounds.
mangeaille
,
f.
victuals.
manger
,
v.
to eat, eat up;
apporter à --
, bring something to eat.
mangeur
,
m.
eater.
manie
,
f.
mania, fancy.
maniement
,
m.
handling.
manière
,
f.
manner;
pl.
manners.
manivelle
,
f.
crank, handle.
manifester
,
v.
to manifest, make known, show.
manne
,
f.
manna, hamper.
mannequin
,
m.
manikin, dummy, man of straw.
manoeuvrer
,
v.
to manoeuver, perform evolutions, drill, move.
manque
,
m.
lack, want.
manquer
,
v.
to be lacking, be missing, lack, miss, come near, fail;
il n'y manquait pas
, he
did not fail to do it.
mansarde
,
f.
attic, garret, garret-window, Mansard window or roof.
manteau
,
m.
mantle, cloak.
maquignon
,
m.
horse dealer, jockey.
maquis
,
m.
thicket (in Corsica).
marais
,
m.
marsh, swamp.
Marais
,
m.
quarter in Paris, north of the Hôtel de Ville, more usually called the Temple.
maraudeur
,
m.
marauder.
marbre
,
m.
marble.
marchand, -e
,
m., f.
merchant, peddler.
marchandise
,
f.
(also
pl.
) merchandise, wares, goods.
marche
,
f.
march, walk, walking, pace, gait, step, progress, move, moving, motion;
marches
perdues
, superfluous steps (that lead to nothing).
marché
,
m.
market, market-place, bargain, bargaining;
à bon --
, cheap, cheaply;
par-dessus le --
, into the bargain.
marcher
,
v.
to march, go on, walk, go, proceed.
mardi
,
m.
Tuesday.
mare
,
f.
pool.
marécage
,
m.
marsh, bog, swamp.
maréchal
,
m.
marshal, blacksmith.
mari
,
m.
husband.
mariage
,
m.
marriage.
Marie
, Mary.
marier
,
v.
to marry, marry off, blend;
se --
, get married;
se -- avec
, marry;
marié avec
,
married to;
marié
,
m.
bridegroom.
Marignan
, Melegnano (Italian town near Milan, where the French defeated the Swiss in 1515).
marin, -e
,
adj. and m.
marine, of the sea, sailor.
marine
,
f.
marine, navy, shipping;
officier de --
, naval officer.
maritime
,
adj.
maritime.
marmaille
,
f.
brats.
marmite
,
f.
pot.
marmot
,
m.
brat, little boy.
marmotter
,
v.
to mutter, mumble.
marque
,
f.
mark, track, token.
marquer
,
v.
to mark, show, indicate.
marquis, -e
,
m., f.
marquis, marchioness.
marron
,
m.
large chestnut.
Marseille
, Marseilles (principal seaport and second city in France).
marteau
,
m.
hammer.
martial, -e
,
adj.
martial (
t
pronounced as
c
).
Martin
, Martin (often applied to a simple person).
massacre
,
m.
massacre.
massacrer
,
v.
to massacre, slay;
massacrant, ~e
,
adj.
murderous.
massif, -ive
,
adj.
massive, solid.
mat, -e
,
adj.
dull, dim, frosted.
mât
,
m.
mast.
matelas
,
m.
mattress.
matelot
,
m.
sailor, seaman.
matériel, -le
,
adj.
material, concrete.
maternel, -le
,
adj.
maternal, on the mother's side.
matière
,
f.
matter;
en -- de
, in regard to.
matin
,
m.
morning, dawn.
mâtin
,
m.
mastiff, cur, rascal.
matinal, -e
,
adj.
morning, early, in the morning.
matinée
,
f.
morning.
maudire
,
v.
to curse;
maudit, -e
, cursed.
maujeure
,
f.
a dialectic word used in Toine in the sense of: fever.
mauresque
,
adj.
Moorish.
maussade
,
adj.
cross, sour, ill-humored, sulky.
mauvais, -e
,
adj. and s.
bad, wretched, evil, mean, dirty, ill (humor), poor.
me
,
conj. pr.
me, to me.
-me
, abbreviation of numerals;
2me, 3me, 4me
, etc. (for
deuxième
, etc.).
mécanique
,
adj.
mechanical.
méchanceté
,
f.
malice, ill will.
méchant, -e
,
adj.
naughty, mean, mischievous, bad, malicious, wicked, wretched.
mécontent, -e
,
adj.
dissatisfied.
Mecque (la)
, Mecca (holy city of the Mohammedans, in Arabia).
médaille
,
f.
medal.
médecin
,
m.
doctor, physician.
médiocre
,
adj.
mediocre, only moderate.
méditatif, -ive
,
adj.
meditative, thoughtful.
méditation
,
f.
meditation.
méditer
,
v.
to meditate, think over.
Méditerranée
,
f.
Mediterranean Sea.
méfiance
,
f.
distrust.
meilleur, -e
,
adj.
better;
le --
, best.
mélancolie
,
f.
melancholy, melancholia.
mélancolique
,
adj.
melancholy.
mêlée
,
f.
scuffle, fight.
mêler
,
v.
to mingle, mix, confuse;
se -- de
, meddle with, mind;
se -- à (avec)
, mingle with, take
part in.
mélodie
,
f.
melody.
mélodieux, -euse
,
adj.
melodious.
membraneux, -euse
,
adj.
membranous.
membre
,
m.
member, limb.
même
,
adj. and adv.
same, self, very, even;
de --
, in the same way, at the same time.
mémoire
,
f.
memory.
mémorable
,
adj.
memorable.
menacer
,
v.
to menace, threaten.
ménage
,
m.
housekeeping, household;
faire son petit --
, to have one's own sweet will.
ménager, -ère
,
m., f.
thrifty persan, housekeeper.
mendiant, -e
,
m., f.
beggar.
mendicité
,
f.
mendicity;
être à la --
, to be reduced to beggary.
mener
,
v.
to lead, bring, take, drive.
ménétrier
,
m.
fiddler.
menottes
,
f. pl.
handcuffs.
mensonge
,
m.
lie.
mentir
,
v.
to lie.
menton
,
m.
chin.
menu, -e
,
adj. and m.
thin, small, trifling, light, bill of fare.
menuet
,
m.
minuet.
menuisier
,
m.
cabinet-maker, joiner.
mépris
,
m.
contempt, scorn.
méprisable
,
adj.
contemptible.
mépriser
,
v.
to despise.
mer
,
f.
sea, tide.
mercenaire
,
adj. and s.
mercenary, hireling.
merci
,
f.
mercy, thanks, thank you (masculine with
grand
);
Dieu --
, thank God.
mercier
,
m.
mercer, haberdasher.
mercredi
,
m.
Wednesday.
mère
,
f.
mother.
meringue
,
f.
meringue, light pastry with whipped cream.
mérite
,
m.
merit, worth.
mériter
,
v.
to merit, deserve.
méritoire
,
adj.
meritorious.
merle
,
m.
blackbird.
Mérope
, a tragedy by Voltaire (1743).
merveilleusement
,
adv.
marvelously, wonderfully.
merveilleux, -euse
,
adj.
wonderful, marvelous.
mes
,
see
mon.
mesdames
,
see
madame.
messe
,
f.
mass.
mesure
,
f.
measure, proportion;
à --
, in proportion or succession as (another action takes
place);
en --
, in time, in proportion;
à -- que
, in proportion as.
mesurer
,
v.
to measure.
métamorphose
,
f.
metamorphosis.
méticuleux, -euse
,
adj.
over-scrupulous, fastidious.
métier
,
m.
trade, loom.
mètre
,
m.
meter (39 inches).
mette
,
f.
metal (Old French).
mettre
,
v.
to put, place, put on, set, put in place, take (time);
se -- à
, begin, set out in;
se -- en
route
, start;
se -- en mouvement
, begin to move;
se -- à table
, seat oneself at table;
se -- en
colère
, get angry;
se -- en marche
, set out on the march;
se -- au jeu
, get in the game;
se -- en bataille
, form for battle;
se -- dans tous ses atours
, attire oneself in all one's finery;
-- dans
, put in, hit;
-- bas
, take off;
-- pied à terre
, dismount;
-- en pièces
, tear or dash to
pieces;
-- à la porte
, put out of doors;
-- la police en l'air
, stir up the police;
-- le feu
, set fire;
-- en fuite
, set to flight.
meuble
,
m.
piece of furniture,
furniture
,
pl.
furniture.
meubler
,
v.
to furnish.
meunier
,
m.
miller;
meurtre
,
m.
murder.
meurtrier
,
m.
murderer.
meurtrir
,
v.
to bruise;
avoir le coeur meurtri
, to be sick at heart.
meute
,
f.
pack (of hounds, etc.).
mi
,
adv. and adj.
(invariable), equally;
à -- -chemin
, half way.
Michel
, Michael.
midi
,
m.
midday, noon, twelve o'ciock, south;
Midi
,
m.
South of France;
les pleins midis
, the
midday heat.
miel
,
m.
honey.
mien, -ne
,
poss. adj. pr.
(usually with article), mine.
miette
,
f.
crumb.
mieux
,
adv.
better, more, more comfortable;
tant --
, so much the better;
de son --
, the best
he can, etc.;
le --
, best;
regardez --
, look more closely.
mignon, -ne
,
adj.
and s. darling, dainty, cunning, dear little.
migraine
,
f.
sick-headache.
milice
,
f.
militia.
milieu
,
m.
middle, midst, middle ground, surroundings.
militaire
,
adj. and m.
military, soldier.
mille
,
card.
one thousand;
-- et deuxième
,
ord.
thousand and second (in this and in the next
two words
ll
is not liquid).
millier
,
m.
about one thousand, thousand.
million
,
m.
million.
Milon
, Milo.
minaret
,
m.
minaret.
minauder
,
v.
to simper, mince, smirk.
minauderie
,
f.
smirking, simpering.
mince
,
adj.
thin, slender, narrow.
mine
,
f.
look, appearance.
mine
,
f.
mine.
minerai
,
m.
ore.
ministère
,
m.
department (of a cabinet minister), building for the administration offices,
ministry, cabinet.
ministre
,
m.
minister; adjectively: ministerial.
minuit
,
m.
midnight.
minute
,
f.
minute;
de cinq minutes en cinq minutes
, every five minutes.
minutieux, -euse
,
adj.
minute, searching (
t
pronounced as
c
).
mioche
,
m., f.
brat, youngster.
miracle
,
m.
miracle.
mirage
,
m.
mirage.
miroir
,
m.
mirror.
miroiter
,
v.
to glitter, shine, reflect light.
Miromesnil (rue de)
, Parisian street crossing the Boulevard Malesherbes (pronounced:
Miroménil
).
misérable
,
adj. and s.
miserable, wretched, wretch.
misère
,
f.
misery, destitution, hardship.
miséricorde
,
f.
mercy.
Moallakats
, a collection of seven Arabic poems of different authors in the 6th and 7th
centuries (also written
Moallakât
).
mobile
,
adj.
movable, mobile, unsteady, variable, in motion, restless.
mode
,
f.
manner, style, fashion;
marchande de modes
, milliner;
à la --
, in style.
modèle
,
m.
model.
modération
,
f.
moderation.
modéré, -e
,
adj.
moderate.
moderne
,
adj.
modern.
modeste
,
adj.
modest.
modestement
,
adv.
modestly.
modestie
,
f.
modesty.
modifier
,
v.
to modify.
moelle
,
f.
marrow (in this and in the next word
oe
is pronounced as
oi
in
moi
).
moelleux, -euse
,
adj.
soft.
moeurs
,
f. pl.
manners, habits, customs (
s
pronounced).
moi
,
conj. and disj. pr.
me, to me, I, myself.
moignon
,
m.
stump (of an arm, etc.).
moi-même
,
pr.
myself, I myself.
moindre
,
adj.
less;
le --
, least, the slightest.
moins
,
adv.
less, the less;
le --
, least;
au --
, at least;
du --
, at least;
à -- que
or
de
, unless;
pour le --
, at the least.
mois
,
m.
month.
moisissure
,
f.
mold.
moisson
,
f.
harvest.
moite
,
adj.
moist, damp.
moitié
,
f.
half;
à --
, half.
moleskine
,
f.
moleskin (corduroy, etc.; sometimes applied to imitation leather).
mollesse
,
f.
softness, laxness, enervation.
molleton
,
m.
swanskin (soft woollen stuff).
molosse
,
m.
mastiff.
môme
,
m., f.
youngster, "kid" (familiar).
moment
,
m.
moment.
momie
,
f.
mummy.
mon, ma (mes
,
pl.), poss. adj. pr.
my.
monarchie
,
f.
monarchy.
Monceau (le parc)
, an attractive park in the northwestern section of Paris.
monde
,
m.
world, people, society;
tout le --
, everybody.
monnaie
,
f.
change, coin.
monocle
,
m.
monocle.
monotone
,
adj.
monotonous.
monsieur (messieurs
,
pl.), m.
mister, sir, gentleman, the gentleman; abbreviated:
M.
, Mr.;
-- son père
, his father (pronounced:
mesieu
).
monstre
,
m. and adj.
monster, monstrous.
monstrueux, ~euse
,
adj.
monstrous.
mont
,
m.
mount.
montagne
,
f.
mountain.
monter
,
v.
to mount, go up, ascend, come up, get in.
Montivilliers
, small Norman town between le Havre and Fécamp (
ll
not liquid).
montre
,
f.
watch, exhibition, show-window.
montrer
,
v.
to show, indicate, point out;
se --
, show oneself, appear.
montueux, -euse
,
adj.
hilly.
monture
,
f.
mount, horse (for riding).
monumental, -e
,
adj.
monumental.
moquer
,
v.
to mock;
se -- de
, make fun of, care nothing about;
s'en -- pas mal
, not care a rap
about it.
moral, -e
,
adj.
moral, mental;
faire de la morale à
, to preach to, exhort.
morceau
,
m.
morsel, bit, piece.
mordieu
,
interj.
by heaven!, etc.
mordre
,
v.
to bite.
morgue
,
f.
pride, arrogance.
morne
,
adj.
gloomy, mournful, sad.
mornifle
,
f.
slap on the jaws.
morsure
,
f.
bite.
mort
,
f.
death;
-- -qui-trompe
, deceptive death, death in ambush.
mortel, -le
,
adj. and s.
mortal.
mortifier
,
v.
to mortify.
morue
,
f.
codfish.
mosaique
,
f.
mosaic.
Moscou
, Moscow.
mosquée
,
f.
mosque.
mot
,
m.
word;
un bon --
, a witty remark.
motif
,
m.
motive.
motte
,
f.
clod, lump.
mou, molle
,
adj.
soft, nerveless, flabby.
mouche
,
f.
fly;
faire --
, to hit the bull's-eye;
-- à vapeur
, small steamboat used on French
rivers.
moucheron
,
m.
gnat, "kid" (slang in the latter sense).
moucheter
,
v.
to spot, speckle.
mouchoir
,
m.
handkerchief.
moufle
,
f.
mitten.
mouiller
,
v.
to wet, bathe, cast (anchor);
se --
, become wet.
mouillure
,
f.
wetness, wetting, dampness.
moulin
,
m.
mill.
mourir
,
v.
to die;
se --
, be dying;
faire --
, make die, kill, execute;
-- pour --
, as well die one
time as another;
mort -e
,
adj. and s.
dead, spent (bullet), dead man, etc.
mousquet
,
m.
musket.
mousqueterie
,
f.
musketry.
mousse
,
f.
moss, foam.
mousse
,
m.
cabin-boy.
mousseline
,
f.
muslin.
mousseux, -euse
,
adj.
foamy, frothy.
moustache
,
f.
mustache.
moutard
,
m.
urchin, brat.
mouton
,
m.
sheep, mutton.
mouvement
,
m.
movement, motion, impulse.
mouvoir
,
v.
to move;
mouvant, -e
, adj. moving, busy.
moyen, -ne
,
adj. and m.
average, mean, medium, middle, means, resource, way;
au -- de
,
by means of.
moyenâgeux, -euse
,
adj.
medieval.
Mozart
, (Wolfgang Amadeus), noted German composer of
Marriage of Figaro, Don
Giovanni, Requiem
; etc., (1756-1791).
muet, -te
,
adj. and s.
mute, silent.
muezzin
,
m.
muezzin (Mohammedan priest who announces from the minaret the hour for
prayer).
mule
,
f.
mule.
mulon
,
m.
great heap of salt.
Munster
, Münster (small Alsatian town).
mur
,
m.
wall.
mûr, -e
,
adj.
ripe, mature.
muraille
,
f.
wall, rampart.
murer
,
v.
to wall up.
mûrir
,
v.
to ripen, mature, develop.
murmure
,
m.
murmur, murmuring.
murmurer
,
v.
to murmur.
mutualité
,
f.
mutuality.
muscle
,
m.
muscle.
muse
,
f.
muse.
musicien
,
m.
musician.
musique
,
f.
music;
faire de la --
, to play.
mystère
,
m.
mystery.
mystérieux, -euse
,
adj.
mysterious.
mystification
,
f.
mystification, hoax.
mythologique
,
adj.
mythological.