French Conversation · Level 70
59 words
French word
livide
Pronunciation
IPA/livid/
Meaning
- adjectivepale
Example
Elle est devenue livide en entendant la nouvelle.
She turned pale when she heard the news.
More examples
Il avait un teint livide ce matin.
He had a pale complexion this morning.
Core concept
A face drained of color and tinged blue, as in cold, suffocation, or shock.
Common phrases
peau livide
pale skin
un teint livide
a pale complexion
Similar words
pâle: Pale in appearance, whether describing a face or another colored object.
Definition in French
Livide qualifie une pâleur extrême, souvent nuancée d'une teinte bleutée, qui suggère un malaise physique (froid, asphyxie) ou un état de choc.
Word origin
French livide is a learned borrowing from Latin lividus, meaning bluish or lead-colored, whose sense developed toward extreme pallor.
Usage tips
- French livide is more formal and dramatic than everyday pâle, while English livid often means furious, so the words are not interchangeable.
Other meanings
- ashenadjective
Opposites
- sainhealthyadjective