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portée. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
portée, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
portée in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
portée you have here. The definition of the word
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portée, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
French
Etymology
From feminine past participle of porter (“to carry”).
Pronunciation
Noun
portée f (plural portées)
- reach, range, scope
la portée de sa voix- within the distance that his voice can be heard
Cela n’est pas à portée de vue.- It was not in the range of sight.
Il fait une dépense fort au-dessus de sa portée.- He made a significant expenditure beyond his reach.
1937, Léon Berman, Histoire des Juifs de France des origines à nos jours:[…] mais son talent c’est précisément de mettre les problèmes les plus ardus à la portée des cerveaux les plus frustes.- but his talent was precisely to put the most arduous problems within the reach of the most productive brains.
- range (of a weapon)
1874, François P. L. Pollen, D. C. van Dam, Recherches sur la Faune de Madagascar et de ses dépendances, page 30:Dès qu’ils aperçoivent un caret ou une tortue franche, ils tachent de les avoir à portée et dans le moment favorable ils lancent avec une adresse étonnante un des harpons en visant sur la tête ou la queue pour ne pas dommager les plaques latérales; qui dans les carets font la valeur de l’animal.- As soon as they spot a loggerhead turtle or a green sea turtle, they try to get it within range, and when the time is right they launch with astonishing dexterity one of the harpoons, aiming for the head or the tail so as not to damage the side plates, which in turtles the value of the animal is found.
- litter (animals born in one birth)
- Coordinate term: couvée (“clutch”)
- (music) stave
- (programming) scope
Derived terms
Participle
portée f sg
- feminine singular of porté
Further reading
Norman
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun
portée f (plural portées)
- (Jersey) litter
Synonyms