essuyer

to wipe; to dry

verb eh-swee-YEH Less Common

Also means

to endure (a rebuke)

Usage Note

Essuyer literally means to wipe a surface dry (essuyer la vaisselle = to dry the dishes). Figuratively it means to weather or suffer something unpleasant — essuyer un refus (to face a refusal), essuyer des critiques (to come in for criticism). The reflexive s'essuyer means to dry oneself off.

Examples

"Elle essuie la table après le repas."

Natural Translation

She wipes the table after the meal.

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