French Conversation · Level 91
60 words
French word
épanchement
Pronunciation
IPA/epɑ̃ʃəmɑ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nounoutpouring
Example
Lors de la réunion, il y a eu un épanchement d'émotion.
At the meeting, there was an outpouring of emotion.
More examples
Au téléphone, elle a eu un épanchement d'émotion.
On the phone, she had an emotional outpouring.
Core concept
Something contained spreads out into a surrounding space, like emotion leaving the chest or fluid collecting in a body cavity.
Similar words
émotion: A feeling such as joy or sadness.
débordement: An uncontrolled overflow of feelings into outward expression.
éclatement: A sudden, forceful burst of emotion.
Definition in French
Débordement soudain d'émotion exprimé; nom désignant aussi l'accumulation de liquide dans une cavité corporelle.
Word origin
Épanchement is derived from épancher with the suffix -ment; épancher comes through Old French from Latin expandicare, related to expandere, 'spread out'.
Usage tips
- In its emotional sense, un épanchement is masculine and often sounds formal or literary rather than conversational.