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pensant

thinking, rational

adjective pahn-SAHN Rare
Mind & Emotions Mental States

Origin: present participle of penser (to think)

Usage Note

Pensant appears mainly in set expressions rather than as a free-standing adjective. Bien-pensant (right-thinking, conformist) describes someone who holds conventionally respectable views, often used ironically. Le roseau pensant ('the thinking reed') is Pascal's famous metaphor for human beings in his Pensées. The standalone adjective is mostly literary or philosophical.

Examples

"L'être humain est un roseau pensant, selon Pascal."

Natural Translation

The human being is a thinking reed, according to Pascal.

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