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to entendre

to entendre

9.9
To mean or intend something specific
  • verb
  • /ɑ̃tɑ̃dʁ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : entender
  • What does the author entendre by this phrase?

Examples

  • Scholars debate what the author truly wished to entendre in this passage.

  • The poet would often entendre double meanings in his verses.

  • In the older text, the king is said to entendre his words as a promise of peace.

  • I entendre what you mean.

  • In the older text, the king is said to entendre his words as a promise of peace.

  • Scholars debate what the author truly wished to entendre in this passage.

  • The poet would often entendre double meanings in his verses.

Synonyms

to intend
vsto entendre
143 2.8

Try to show a particular idea or message

is an older archaic expression meaning the same in older usage

Compounds

7 8.4

A phrase with two meanings, one often innocent and the other rude about sex

A joke or remark that has only one clear meaning

triple entendre
  • Literature
9.9

A phrase that has three different meanings used to make a joke or point

Surface Forms

entendre infinitive
entendant present participle
entendres third person singular
entendu past
entendu past participle

Etymology

The verb entendre comes from that French word for 'to hear' and 'to understand', and long ago it was used to mean 'to mean' or 'to intend', which is why you sometimes see it in older writing.