souterrain

See also: Souterrain

English

Etymology

From French souterrain, from sous (“under”) +‎ terrain (“ground”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsuːtəɹeɪn/

Noun

souterrain (plural souterrains)

1. (archaeology) An underground chamber or passage sometimes used as a store, especially one associated with Iron Age settlements.
   • 1885, Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 11:

     Now when my son saw that I separated them, he secretly built this souterrain and furnished it and transported to it victuals, even as thou seest; and, when I had gone out a-sporting, came here with his sister and hid from me.

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French souterrain.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: sou‧ter‧rain

Noun

souterrain n (plural souterrains, diminutive souterraintje n)

1. basement, cellar

French

Etymology

From sou- +‎ terrain, based on the model of Latin subterraneus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /su.tɛ.ʁɛ̃/, /su.te.ʁɛ̃/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

souterrain (feminine souterraine, masculine plural souterrains, feminine plural souterraines)

1. underground

   Hyponyms: endogé, hypogé

Derived terms

• économie souterraine

Noun

souterrain m (plural souterrains)

1. underground passage, tunnel

Descendants

• → English: souterrain
• → Dutch: souterrain

Further reading

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

Anagrams

• retournais, tournerais