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intérieurement

inwardly, internally

adverb an-teh-ryur-MAHN Rare
Mind & Emotions Mental States

Usage Note

Intérieurement describes thoughts, feelings, or reactions that are kept inside and not expressed outwardly — rire intérieurement ('to laugh inwardly'), souffrir intérieurement ('to suffer inside'). It is a written-register word; in speech, en soi, à l'intérieur, or dans sa tête are more natural.

Examples

"Elle souriait intérieurement en l'écoutant."

Natural Translation

She was smiling inwardly as she listened to him.

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