narguer

French

Etymology

Probably from Vulgar Latin *nārificō, a humourous derivation of Latin nāris (“nose”). through an intermediate Occitan nariguar.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /naʁ.ɡe/

• Audio

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Verb

narguer

1. (transitive) to taunt
   • 1861, Charles Baudelaire, “Allégorie”, in Les Fleurs du mal [The Flowers of Evil], 2nd edition, Paris: Poulet-Malassis et De Broise:

     Elle rit à la Mort et nargue la Débauche, / Ces monstres dont la main, qui toujours gratte et fauche, […]

     She laughs at Death and taunts Debauchery, / Those monsters whose hands, which are always scratching and scything,

   • 1865, Jules Verne, chapter 27, in De la Terre à la Lune [From the Earth to the Moon], J. Hetzel et Compagnie, published 1868:

     Le 8, rien. Le 9, le soleil reparut un instant comme pour narguer les Américains. Il fut couvert de huées, et, blessé sans doute d’un pareil accueil, il se montra fort avare de ses rayons.

     On the 8th, nothing. On the 9th, the sun reappeared for a moment, as if to taunt the Americans. It was met with boos, and, no doubt hurt by this reception, proved to be very miserly with its rays.

Conjugation

Further reading

• “narguer”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.