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épouvante

terror, dread

noun eh-poo-VAHNT Rare

Usage Note

Épouvante denotes intense fear or terror, and is especially associated with horror as a genre: un film d'épouvante ('a horror film'). The related verb épouvanter means 'to terrify' and the adjective épouvantable means 'dreadful' or 'terrible'. The noun épouvantail ('scarecrow') shares the same root.

Examples

"Ce film d'épouvante l'a terrifiée toute la nuit."

Natural Translation

That horror film terrified her all night.

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