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périr

perish, die

verb peh-REER Less Common
Body & Health Health & Illness

Origin: Latin perire

Usage Note

périr is a formal or literary verb for dying, often used for dramatic or tragic death. Périr en mer ('to perish at sea') is a common fixed phrase. The noun péril ('peril, danger') shares the same root.

Examples

"Des milliers de personnes ont péri dans la catastrophe."

Natural Translation

Thousands of people perished in the disaster.

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