French word

appât

Pronunciation

IPA/apa/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbait

Example

Le pêcheur met un appât sur l'hameçon.

The fisherman puts bait on the hook.

Illustration for appât (bait)

More examples

L'appât du gain pousse certains à tricher.

The lure of profit drives some people to cheat.

Core concept

A tempting offering placed in a path to draw a target toward capture or influence.

Common phrases

  • appât vivant

    live bait

  • appât artificiel

    artificial bait

  • appât du gain

    the lure of profit

Similar words

leurre: A deceptive lure used to draw prey or people closer.
piège: A device such as a box or net used to capture prey.
tentation: An alluring temptation that encourages a desired action.
attrait: A quality that attracts attention or interest.

Definition in French

Substance ou objet mis sur un hameçon ou dans un piège pour attirer une proie, et par extension ce qui sert de leurre pour une personne.

Word origin

French appât descends from Old French apast or appast, based on Latin pastus, meaning food or nourishment.

Usage tips

  • Appât is masculine, so the forms are un appât, cet appât, and l'appât despite the ending -ât.

Other meanings

  • decoynoun
  • temptationnoun

Related words

  • appâterbaitverb

Word lists with this word