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arrière-pensée. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
arrière-pensée, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
arrière-pensée in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
Borrowed from French arrière-pensée.
Noun
arrière-pensée (plural arrière-pensées or (proscribed) arrières-pensées)
- A mental reservation or ulterior motive.
1884, Henry James, “The Path of Duty”, in The English Illustrated Magazine, 2(15): 240-256:He knew that I had guessed his arrière-pensée, but he let me off for the moment, for which I was thankful; either because he was still ashamed of it, or because he supposed I was reserving myself for the catastrophe,—should it occur.
French
Etymology
Literally, “behind-thought”.
Pronunciation
Noun
arrière-pensée f (plural arrière-pensées)
- ulterior motive
- doubt, reservation
Further reading
Italian
Etymology
Borrowed from French arrière-pensée.
Pronunciation
Noun
arrière-pensée m or f by sense (invariable)
- arrière-pensée (both senses)