disparu

missing person, the disappeared

noun dees-pah-RÜ Rare

Origin: Past participle of disparaître 'to disappear'

Usage Note

Disparu as a noun refers to someone who has vanished (un disparu de guerre = 'a war casualty/missing soldier') or died (les disparus = 'the deceased'). As an adjective it means 'gone, vanished'. The feminine form is disparue; the plural les disparus is widely used in news reporting for casualties or the missing.

Examples

"Les familles recherchent leurs disparus."

Natural Translation

The families are searching for their missing loved ones.

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