perdu

See also: perdû

English

Alternative forms

• perdue

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French perdu, originally after sentinelle perdue.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pəːˈdjuː/

• Audio (Berkshire, England):

  (file)

Adjective

perdu (not comparable)

1. (obsolete, military) Stationed in an exposed or hazardous position; hidden in ambush. Originally as sentinel perdu. [17th–19th c.]
   • c. 1616–1619 (first performance), John Fletcher, “The Loyal Subiect”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act I, scene i:

     a perdue captain

2. (now rare) In a dangerous situation; lost, desperate. [from 17th c.]
   • 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co., Chapter 7, [1]

     Among certain grizzled sea-gossips of the gun decks and forecastle went a rumor perdue […]

3. (now rare) Hidden; concealed from sight. Chiefly with lie. [from 17th c.]
   • 1642, Thomas Fuller, The Holy State, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Roger Daniel for John Williams, […], →OCLC:

     He should lie Perdue who is to walk the round.

   • 1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond, Broadview 2001, p. 346:

     I stood perdu behind Mr Grimbold; a tall personage, whose broad shoulders, however, just permitted me to peep over at the Major, who had not yet espied me.

Noun

perdu (plural perdus)

1. One placed on watch, or in ambush.
2. A soldier sent on a forlorn hope.
   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii], line 35:

     To watch, poor perdu, / With this thin helm?

Anagrams

• Dupre, Prude, drupe, duper, prude, pured, red up, red-up

---

Esperanto

Verb

perdu

1. imperative of perdi

---

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɛʁ.dy/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Audio (Switzerland):

  (file)

• Homophones: perdue, perdus, perdues

Participle

perdu (feminine perdue, masculine plural perdus, feminine plural perdues)

1. past participle of perdre

Adjective

perdu (feminine perdue, masculine plural perdus, feminine plural perdues)

1. lost

Derived terms

• à corps perdu
• à fonds perdu
• bien perdu, bien connu
• cause perdue
• cire perdue
• pain perdu
• peine perdue
• rattraper le temps perdu
• trou perdu
• un de perdu, dix de retrouvés
• une de perdue, dix de retrouvées

 

Further reading

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

Anagrams

• drupe, duper

---

German

Etymology

Borrowed from French perdu.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

perdu (strong nominative masculine singular perduer, not comparable)

1. lost

Further reading

• “perdu” in Duden online
• “perdu” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

---

Indonesian

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [pərˈdu]
• Hyphenation: pêr‧du

Noun

pêrdu (first-person possessive perduku, second-person possessive perdumu, third-person possessive perdunya)

1. shrub: a woody plant smaller than a tree, and usually with several stems from the same base.
2. clump (of trees), cluster

   Synonym: rumpun

Further reading

• “perdu” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.