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dépourvu

devoid (of), lacking

adjective deh-poor-VOO Rare

Usage Note

Dépourvu is nearly always used in the construction dépourvu de ('devoid of, without'). The idiomatic phrase au dépourvu means 'off guard', as in prendre quelqu'un au dépourvu ('to catch someone off guard'). The feminine form is dépourvue.

Examples

"Il est dépourvu de talent."

Natural Translation

He is devoid of talent.

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