incessant

incessant, unceasing

adjective een-seh-SAHN Rare

Origin: Latin incessans, from in- (not) + cessare (to stop)

Usage Note

Incessant describes something that goes on without interruption, often with an irritating quality — un bruit incessant (an incessant noise). The feminine form is incessante; the adverb is incessamment, which in modern French primarily means 'very soon, imminently' rather than 'unceasingly' — a notable false friend for learners. The phrase incessamment sous peu is a common, slightly formal way of saying 'any time now'.

Examples

"La pluie incessante a inondé les rues."

Natural Translation

The incessant rain flooded the streets.

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