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oubliette

oubliette

noun oo-blee-ET Rare

Usage Note

Oubliette derives from oublier (to forget) and named a secret dungeon pit where prisoners were dropped and forgotten. The word entered English unchanged. Figuratively in French, mettre aux oubliettes means to shelve or abandon something indefinitely.

Examples

"Le château avait une oubliette secrète."

Natural Translation

The castle had a secret oubliette.

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