pauvre

Danish

Adjective

pauvre

  1. definite of pauver
  2. plural of pauver

French

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French pauvre, relatinisation of earlier povre, from Old French povre, inherited from Latin pauper, from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w- (few, small).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /povʁ/
  • (file)

Adjective

pauvre (plural pauvres)

  1. (after a noun) poor (financially deprived)
  2. (after a noun) lacking, scanty
  3. (before a noun) poor, pitiable
  4. (derogatory) Used before epithets, describing the person being addressed, for emphasis.
    Synonym: sale
    pauvre conyou twat, you moron, you idiot

Usage notes

  • This adjective belongs to a group of French adjectives whose position relative to a noun changes depending on its meaning. When positioned before the noun, it is used to describe the state of being pitiable (e.g., Mon pauvre garçon!), whereas when positioned after the noun (like most French adjectives), it refers to the lack of resources (e.g., Il était un fermier pauvre quand il était jeune.).

Derived terms

Noun

pauvre m (plural pauvres, feminine pauvresse)

  1. poor person; pauper
  2. person deserving of pity

Further reading

Anagrams

Norman

Etymology

From Old French povre, from Latin pauper, pauperem.

Adjective

pauvre m or f

  1. (Jersey) poor

Synonyms

Derived terms

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