atteinte

harm, attack, violation

noun ah-TEHNT Rare

Usage Note

Atteinte frequently appears in the legal phrase porter atteinte à ('to infringe upon' or 'to harm'), as in porter atteinte à la vie privée ('to violate privacy'). It differs from attaque in being more formal and abstract. The related verb atteindre means to reach or to affect.

Examples

"C'est une atteinte à ses droits."

Natural Translation

It is a violation of his rights.

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