empêcher

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French

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Etymology

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Inherited from Old French empeechier, inherited from Latin impedicāre. Cognate with English impeach. Doublet of empiéger.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ɑ̃.pɛ.ʃe/ ~ /ɑ̃.pe.ʃe/
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

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empêcher

  1. (transitive) to stop; to prevent; to hinder
    • 1966, C. van de Kieft, “Monopole de vente du "gruit" (produit végétal employé dans la fabrication de la bière) et droit de ban”, in Acta Historiae Neerlandica, volume 1, page 79:
      De la sorte, le banvin empêchait le débit de vins de qualité inférieure et servait l’intérêt général.
      In this way, the banvin prevented the output of poor-quality wines and served the general interest.
  2. (reflexive) to refrain [with de ‘from something’ or de (+ infinitive) ‘from doing something’]
    Synonym: se retenir de
    Je ne peux m’empêcher de l’admirer.I can't help but admire him.

Conjugation

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Quotations

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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