coup de grâce

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[edit] English

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[edit] Etymology

Late 17th century, from French coup de grâce (stroke of grace). Originally referring to a merciful stroke putting a fatally wounded person out of misery or to the shot delivered to the head of a prisoner after facing a firing squad.

[edit] Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ku də grɑs/
  • IPA: /ku də grɑː/ (hyperforeign)—Some English speakers, aware that some final consonants are dropped in French, overcompensate by dropping the final /s/ sound in grâce, making this sound like French coup de gras (“stroke of grease”).

[edit] Noun

Singular
coup de grâce

Plural
coups de grâce

coup de grâce (plural coups de grâce)

  1. A final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal.

[edit] Translations


[edit] French

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Noun

coup de grâce m. (plural coups de grâce)

  1. Stroke of grace (or mercy).
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