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espérance. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
espérance, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
espérance in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
espérance you have here. The definition of the word
espérance will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
espérance, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
French
Etymology
From espérer + -ance (Middle French and Old French esperance), or possibly corresponding to Vulgar Latin spērantia, from Latin spērāns. Compare Italian speranza, Spanish esperanza, Catalan esperança.
Pronunciation
Noun
espérance f (plural espérances)
- hope
- Synonym: espoir
- Antonym: désespérance
2021 January 22, Denise Bombardier, “Comment déradicaliser 40 millions d'Américains [How to deradicalize 40 million Americans]”, in Le Journal de Québec:Le président Biden est un homme de foi, donc d’espérance. Il fut beaucoup question de Dieu lors de la cérémonie au Capitole mercredi. C’est là une différence fondamentale entre les Américains et nous. Mais si l’espérance est une vertu chrétienne, l’espoir est un sentiment humain.- President Biden is a man of faith, and therefore of hope. Much was made of God during the ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday. Here lies a fundamental difference between the Americans and us. But if hope is a Christian virtue, hope is a human emotion.
- (probability theory) expected value
Usage notes
- espérance has a more spiritual, religious, or cosmic connotation than its near-synonym espoir. See e.g. the quotation above.
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