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froideur

coldness, aloofness

noun frwah-DUHR Rare

Origin: From froid (cold) + the suffix -eur (forming abstract nouns).

Usage Note

Froideur describes a cool or distant emotional attitude toward others, rather than physical cold temperature (which is froid or froidure). It appears in expressions like accueillir quelqu'un avec froideur (to greet someone coldly). The antonym is chaleur (warmth), and the adjective is froid/froide, which also carries this figurative sense.

Examples

"Il répond avec une froideur déconcertante."

Natural Translation

He responds with disconcerting coldness.

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