dévergondé

shameless person, libertine

noun adjective deh-vehr-gohn-DEH Rare

Origin: From dévergonder, from vergogne ('shame'), from Latin verecundia.

Usage Note

Dévergondé functions as both a noun and an adjective. As an adjective the feminine form is dévergondée. It describes someone who openly disregards social or moral conventions, with a strong connotation of sexual immorality. The word has a slightly old-fashioned, literary feel; in modern speech débauché or libertin might be preferred.

Examples

"Ce personnage dévergondé choque les villageois."

Natural Translation

This shameless character shocks the villagers.

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