Confusing by a couple things

Question

In this sentence "s'adressa à elle d'une voix languide" can it please be explained why the "De" in "D'une" is present?

And what is the difference between "Du moins" and "Au moins" ?

And in this sentence - "J'ai bien peur de ne pas pouvoir m'expliquer" why is "bien" necessary/needed?

Thank you!

Accepted Answer

1) de in this context is "with" or "by", like in: La pelouse est couverte de fleures. -- The lawn is covered with flowers.
2) Even though in English they often are both translated as "at least", there is a  difference between au moins and du moins. Au moins sets a minimum in a certain measurable quantity. Du moins is in itself a limiting conjunction.
Je dois traduire au moins 10 pages. -- I have to translate at least 10 pages (but I may translate more).Je dois traduire 10 pages, du moins les plus importantes. -- I have to translate 10 pages, at least the most important ones. (This limits which pages of the 10 you mean.)
3) J'ai bien peur de ne pas pouvoir m'expliquer -- I am (well) afraid not to be able to explain myself. Often, you add a bien in French to stress a certain fact. Sometimes, in English you may be able to insert "well" in this case.