inventer

invent

verb an-vahn-TEH Less Common

Also means

make up

Usage Note

Inventer covers both genuine invention and fabrication — you can invent a machine or invent an excuse. The noun une invention and the agent un inventeur derive from the same root. The phrase tu l'as inventé ('you made that up') is a common informal accusation of lying.

Examples

"Il a inventé une nouvelle machine."

Natural Translation

He invented a new machine.

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