épave

French

Etymology

The substantivization of Old French espave, from Latin expavidus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /e.pav/

• Audio (Paris):

  (file)

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

épave f (plural épaves)

1. wreck (ship, car, etc.)
2. (figuratively) human wreck, basket case
3. wreckage, piece of wreckage; flotsam
4. (law) derelict
5. ruins

Derived terms

• épaveur
• épaviste

Further reading

• “épave”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.